Introduction: Poor nutritional status of female adolescents does not only have an impact on themselves but also have an impact on the next generation. Food intake and dietary quality are important to support nutritional status during adolescence. This study aims to determine the relationship between food intake and dietary quality with nutritional status of female adolescent in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia. Methods: This research was an observational study using a cross-sectional design. The subjects of this study were female adolescents aged 12-18 years with a total sample of 222 people. Data of food intake and dietary quality were measured using recall method, while nutritional status data were calculated using BMI for Age Z scores (BAZ). A linear regression model was used to predict the relationship of food intake and dietary quality to the nutritional status of female adolescents. Results: The average BAZ was 0.1±1.0, with an average dietary quality of 34.6±6.6%. The average energy intake was 1507.9±472.3 kcal, protein 32.4±11.0 g, carbohydrates 258.6±84.4 g, fat 44.9±19.9 g and fiber 3.88±2.7 g. Food intake (energy, protein, and fiber) and dietary quality were related to nutritional status (BAZ) in female adolescents (p<0.05). Conclusion: The balance of food intake and dietary quality is important to maintain the nutritional status of female adolescent properly. Nutritional interventions are needed to support female adolescent entering pregnancy with good nutritional status.

Introduction: An imbalance in diet can lead to anaemia in young women, which can impact not only themselves, but also the next generation. This study aimed to determine associations between quantity and quality of dietary intake with haemoglobin (Hb) concentration among female adolescents in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 347 young women aged 12-18 years from ten districts in Tasikmalaya City, selected by simple random sampling. Quantity and quality of dietary intake were measured by 2-repeated 24-hour dietary recalls, while portable haemoglobinometer (HemoCue® Hb 201+) was used to measure Hb concentration. Linear regression model predicted associations between quantity and quality of dietary intake with Hb concentration in female adolescents. Results: The proportion of subjects suffering from anaemia were 47.3%. Average intake of dietary iron was 6.7±3.0 mg and average dietary quality score was 32.6%. Dietary quality score and days of menstrual bleeding contributed as much as 12.7% to the variation in Hb concentration among female adolescents. Conclusion: Anaemia in female adolescents in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia is a serious public health problem. Diet quality score was associated with female adolescents’ Hb concentration; therefore, improving the quality of diet is important to reduce anaemia.