Abstract

Background: The World health organization (WHO) defines adolescents as individuals between the ages of 10–19 years and they make up about 20% of the world’s population. Under-nutrition is still highly prevalent among the adolescents of developing countries including India.

Aims & Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the age-sex trends of under nutrition among the adolescent age group school children of 11-18 years age group in District Gautambudh-nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional study was carried out in the Government schools in Bhangel, the urban field practice area of Department of Community Medicine. A questionnaire was administered to 392 school students (290 boys and 102 girls) of 11-18 years age group studying in VIth-XIIth standard. All the students were also subjected to measurement of height and weight. Body mass index (BMI) of all students was calculated. The heights and BMI of the students were then compared with the WHO 2007 reference standards.

Results: The mean BMI was found to be less as compared to the WHO 2007 reference standards in both the sexes and the difference was found to be statistically significant in almost all age groups. The mean height was found to be less as compared to WHO reference for height in all age groups in both sexes and the difference was statistically significant in almost all age groups.

Conclusion: The present study indicates that the nutritional status of the adolescent school children in our country is very poor.

Key words: Adolescents; Undernutrition; Body Mass Index (BMI); WHO 2007 Reference Standards