Comparative assessment of nutritional status of adolescents in government and private schools of Hisar city
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Date
2018
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CCSHAU
Abstract
The present study was conducted between November, 2017 to March, 2018 on adolescents (13-17 years, n=200) from government and private schools of Hisar city to compare their nutritional status. Results reveal that majority (86.50%) belonged to urban area. Most of the subjects (94.30%) were Hindu, belonged to general caste category (63.50%) were pure-vegetarian (74.50%), came from nuclear families (67.00%) with low media exposure (94.50%). Mothers (39.50%) and fathers (43.50%) of most of the respondents were below graduate. The majority of respondents‘ fathers (40.00%) were engaged in non-government jobs and majority (82.50%) of respondents‘ mothers were housewives. The average monthly family income of majority of adolescents (45.50%) was between Rs. 10,001 to 30,000. In total, the respondents from private school were significantly (p≤0.05) heavier with comparable height to government school respondents. Also, the private school respondents had a significantly (p≤0.05) higher BMI, waist and hip circumference as well as body fat per cent as compared to those from government school. The male respondents were significantly (p≤0.05) taller to females with lower body fat per cent. Dual malnutrition was evident with majority (55.5 %) being normal weight. Over all, there were 7.5 per cent overweight, 1.0 per cent obese along with 36 per cent under weight adolescents with waist to hip ratios contained well within cut off limits. Daily mean intake of cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers, other vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, sugar and jiggery, and fats and oils was significantly (p≤0.05) lower than their respective RDIs in the daily diets of both the male and female adolescents of both the age group (13-15yrs and 16-17yrs). The adolescents belonging to private schools had significantly (p≤0.05) higher consumption of cereals, pulses, roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, milk and milk products, fats and oils, sugar and jaggery, and fruits than the adolescents of private schools. The adolescent males had significantly (p≤0.05) higher consumption of cereals, pulses, roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fats and oils, sugar and jaggery than the adolescent females. Except cereals, pulses, roots & tubers and sugars the adequacy ratio was below 50 per cent of RDI for all food groups in majority of government college respondents. However, majority of private college respondents met the adequacy by 75 -99.9 per cent of RDI for food groups except ‗green leafy vegetables‘ which was below 50 per cent. The daily mean intake of energy, protein, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin C which were found to be significantly lower than their respective RDAs in the daily diets of majority of adolescents. The daily mean intake of various nutrients of the adolescents of public school was significantly (p≤0.05) higher than those from private schools. Furthermore, the nutrient intake of boys was significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the females which may be due to higher daily mean food intake by boys than the girls. Adequacy ratio for all nutrients except fat was below 75 per cent of RDA in majority of adolescents from government schools. In case of private school adolescents, the majority had adequacy ratio for protein and iron between 75-99.9 per cent of RDA. A significant (p≤0.05) positive correlation of family income with protein, energy, fat, iron, calcium, vitamin B1, Vitamin B2 and vitamin C was observed. A significant (p≤0.05) impact on the gain of nutrition knowledge was reported after imparting the nutrition education. It may be concluded that food and nutrient intake of adolescents from both genders and both school categories were below the respective RDI/RDA standards prescribed by ICMR (2010) for Indian adolescents.
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