A Study on Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls and their Consciousness about Body Image

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Adolescent girls are future mothers. Nutritional status is important determinant of their physical growth and development, which in turn determines the reproductive outcome. Body image is a psychological construct that is part of self-image. The present study on adolescent girls was conducted to assess their nutritional status of adolescent girls and degree of dissatisfaction and misconception about their body image. Materials and Methods: A Community based cross sectional observational study was conducted among 490 late adolescent girls of age group 15-19 years in the urban field practice area of Chitradurga. Subjects were interviewed after obtaining verbal consent.BMI is calculated by measuring height and weight. Results: Majority (50.82 %) of subjects belonged to lower Socio economic class, 78% were Hindus and 5.31% of the girls were married. Majority of adolescent girls (53.06%) were underweight followed by normal (45.51 %), overweight (1.02 %) and obese (0.41 %). There was statistically significant association between nutritional status and type of diet. More than half (55.92%) of the girls over estimated their own body weight and only 10.99% of girls underestimated. Majority of the adolescent girls 81.43% of the girls were satisfied and only 18.57% of girls were not satisfied with their body image. There was statistically significant association between consciousness about body image and nutritional status of adolescent girls. Conclusion: In the present study, nutritional status of adolescent girls appeared to be poor. Large numbers of girls are dissatisfied with their body image. Girls of urban areas and even from slums are unconstructively apprehensive about slim figure. It is posing a detrimental threat to their health and nutritional status.