Nutritional Health, Dietary Conditions, and Meal Satisfaction Among Incarcerated Males: A Comparative Study Across Indian Prisons

Objectives: Incarceration affects various aspects of a prisoner’s health, nutrition, and coping behaviours. This study aimed to explore and compare socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and health-related experiences among male inmates in two Indian district prisons at Lucknow and Unnao. Material and method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 60 male inmates (30 from each prison). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering dietary habits, body mass index, nutritional awareness, physical activity, and substance use. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis were used to assess inter-prison differences. Results: Most participants were young adults with no significant difference in age or body mass index between the two groups. An urban background was more common in Lucknow, whereas a rural background was predominant in Unnao. Nutritional awareness was higher in Lucknow (53.3%) than in Unnao (33.3%). Overall access to fresh produce and dietary variety was limited. Only 13.3% had received any nutritional counselling. Meal satisfaction was significantly higher in Lucknow (P = 0.04), and access to physical activity was more frequently reported. Discussion: Nutritional awareness, diet quality, and access to physical activity were influenced by institutional differences. Targeted interventions such as structured nutrition education and exercise programs are needed to improve the health and wellbeing of incarcerated populations.