Assessment of nutritional status and physical fitness of adolescent girls in relation to socio economic background
Loading...
Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to find out the nutritional status and
physical fitness of adolescent girls in relation to socio economic background. One
hundred eighty girls aged 13-15 year were purposively selected from government and
public schools located in Hanumangarh city, Rajasthan. An interview schedule was
developed to collect the information regarding background profile and physical
activity. The nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements, dietary
survey and haemoglobin estimation using standard techniques. Physical fitness was
assessed by step up test, curl up test and sit and reach test.
Background information of the respondents indicated that majority of girls
were Hindu (68.34%) and belonged to OBC (52.77%) category and were from nuclear
families (65.55%).
Data on anthropometric measurement indicated that in comparison to standard
height, percentage height of respondents (13-15 years) ranged from 92.42 – 99.53 and
96.69 – 100.46 for lower class and upper class respectively, while in middle class all
age groups maintained their height (99.37 – 99.80). Mean percent weight was
minimum in lower class (83.71 - 94.81) and maximum in upper class (96.14 - 106
.09). Data also indicated that irrespective of SES category there was decrease in
percent standard weight with increase in age. Classification based on weight for age
showed that girls in normal category were more from upper SES group (96.33%) than
middle SES group (81.66%). No significant difference was found between SES
groups and grades of malnutrition as per height /age classification but with respect to
weight /age category a highly (p<0.01) significant difference was noted.
The intake of all the food stuffs i.e. cereals, pulses, milk and milk products
green leafy vegetables and fruits was inadequate in the all the SES groups except that
of sugar and jaggery and fats and oils and a highly significant difference was shown
between the intake of food stuffs and SES groups whereas no significant difference
was found in the mean intake of fats and oils among different SES groups. The intake
of energy and protein was found comparatively higher in upper class, whereas intake
of calcium, iron, β-carotene and vitamin C was found higher in middle class. In
comparison to RDA the intake of all the nutrients was low irrespective of SES class.
A Statistically ( p<0.01) significant difference was found between all SES groups
with respect to nutrient intake.
60
The mean haemoglobin level of selected respondents in lower, middle and
upper class were 8.9 ± 1.29, 8.75 ± 1.32 and 9.39 ± 1.31 g/dl respectively and was
lower than the normal level (≥12 g/dl) in all the three SES groups. Moderate, mild and
severe anaemic were 67.77, 27.22 and 2.22 percent respectively and no significant
association was found between SES and grades of anemia.
Results of physical fitness showed that fitness index (cardio respiratory
endurance) was maximum in middle class (79.75±15.71), whereas it was more or less
same in lower and upper class subjects.(73.07±15.47and 74.39±17.10) respectively.
More than half of the subjects (55%) in lower class were having poor fitness and rest
subjects (45%) were showing low average fitness. In the middle class category 61.66
percent were having low average fitness index whereas rest 38.33 percent subjects
having poor fitness. Similar were the results for the upper class subjects. None of the
subjects were among good, very good or excellent endurance capacity.
Overview of results for curl up test (muscular endurance) depicted that mean
number of curl ups were lowest in upper class (39±17) and highest in middle class
subjects (48±13).In lower class, number of curl ups were 48±14 which were more or
less same as that of middle class. Grading of curl ups revealed that majority of the
respondents (75%) were in high performance category and these were 88.3 and 51.66
percent being highest in middle class and lowest in the upper class.
The flexibility of respondents assessed through the sit and reach test showed
that maximum distance covered by the subjects was 31.77±1.86 cm from lower class
and minimum was 30.26±1.31 cm by upper class. Classification for flexibility
indicated that none of the subject had excellent and very good fitness. In the good
fitness category there were 11.11 percent respondents, majority were from lower class
(21.66%). Whereas in the fair category were 82.22 percent respondents and these
were being highest (90 %) in upper class and lowest (75%) in lower class.
Respondents in “need improvement” category were 6.66 percent
Association of physical fitness with SES groups assessed by Chi square test
revealed that no significant difference was found between SES groups and
cardiorespiratory endurance whereas as a significant (p<0.01) difference was showed
between SES and muscular endurance and between SES and flexibility.
Description
Assessment of nutritional status and physical fitness of adolescent girls in relation to socio economic background
Keywords
null
Citation
Mahajani and Bhatnagar, 2014