Background : A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the nutritional status of school children in Army School, Pune. Methods: Anthropometric survey of 760 school children was carried out and compared against the NCHS/WHO reference standards to determine their nutritional status. Associations of nutritional status with socio-economic status, education status of parents, mothers working status and family size were determined. Result: The prevalence of stunting was 13.81%, wasting 6.71% and under nutrition 9.87%. Mothers' educational level, wasting, socio economic status and family size were significantly associated with the nutritional status of the child. Conclusion: Maternal educational status, socio-economic status and family size are important determinants of nutritional status of school children.

Background: There are few epidemiological studies on prevalence of hypertension and its determinants in rural population. This cross sectional study was done to determine the same in a rural community. Methods: A random sample of 406 people (218 men and 188 women) of 30 years and above was selected from a rural area. The pre tested proforma was used to collect the data by trained doctors. Result: Prevalence of smoking and tobacco use was 16%, alcohol intake 9.4 %, daily salt intake (≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 5 gram) 34.2%, daily saturated fat intake (≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 10 % of daily energy intake) 47 .0 % and physical inactivity (work and leisure) as 18.5%. Body Mass Index (BMI) was ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 25 in 18 % and ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 30 in 3.2% men and women. Prevalence of truncal obesity (Waist Hip Ratio: men ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 0.9; women ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 0.8) was 8.5% with higher incidence in men. Prevalence of abdominal obesity (men ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 102 cms; women ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 88 cms) was found in 15.7 % with higher incidence in men. Differences in prevalence of risk factors between men and women were statistically significant in case of smoking, alcohol consumption and abdominal obesity. 18.5% men and women were suffering from systolic hypertension (≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 140 mg Hg) and 15 % from diastolic hypertension (≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ 90 mg Hg). Prevalence of risk factors for hypertension was significantly more among subjects suffering from systolic and diastolic hypertension than normotensive subjects. Conclusion: Prevalence of systolic hypertension in rural community was 18.5 % and of diastolic hypertension 15% with higher prevalence in the age group of 60 years and above, in case of men and women. There was a significant linear trend in prevalence of systolic hypertension with respect to age group in men whereas it was not significant in case of women. MJAFI 2008; 64 : 21-25

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Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of specific risk factors, namely, central obesity, raised blood pressure, impaired fasting glucose, raised triglycerides, and low levels of highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). This constellation is triggered by insulin resistance and its resultant hyperinsulinemia. The two most important and universally agreed causes of insulin resistance are increased body fat (particularly central obesity) and physical inactivity. Other causes include certain genetic/pro-genetic factors, unhealthy atherogenic diet, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol intake. Within 3 decades of the initial description of MetS by Reaven, various defining criteria have been developed by now, by leading international professional bodies, the most commonly used being the one given by the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)[NCEP-ATP-III], the updated guidelines recently released by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). MetS has been well documented to increase the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) by two to three times and of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by five times. The world-wide prevalence is on the increase, with the overall global prevalence estimated to be 20%e25% of the adult population. In our country, various epidemiological studies undertaken across the country have consistently shown a high prevalence, which is likely to be as much as one-quarter of the adult population, with increasing age and female gender being at higher risk. The occurrence has also been recorded among the Armed Forces personnel as well as in adolescents. MetS has therefore become a priority issue for both, the public health providers as well as for the clinicians in our country, and needs concerted, all-round efforts for its prevention, early detection, management, and research. Against this background, the various public health measures for prevention and control of MetS have been suggested in this review.

The relatively high level of seroprevalence among recruits has led to certain recommendations on testing and further studies in specific groups, based on the findings of the study.