Comparative Assessment of Nutritional Status in Urban School Children Using Three Different Growth Scales

Abstract

BACKGROUND School age and adolescence represent a dynamic period of physical growth as well as of mental development. Children are particularly vulnerable to nutritional disorders during these periods. Nutritional status of children in these age groups are assessed and monitored commonly by using weight and height for age/gender growth charts. Though BMI (Body Mass Index) is widely used in adult population to define overweight/obesity, it is not used in children routinely to assess nutritional status, especially overnutrition. Aims and Objectives-1. To estimate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in school children using Revised Indian Academy of Paediatrics 2015 growth charts. 2. To compare the difference in rate of prevalence of unhealthy nutritional status by using weight for age/gender and BMI for age/gender criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional/observational study was conducted in Urban Schools. Student's anthropometric data was recorded from classes II (Age-7 years), V (Age-10 years) and VIII (Age-13 years). A Revised Indian Academy of Paediatrics 2015 growth charts were used to assess the nutritional status. RESULTSOut of 1154 children, 698 (60.4%) were boys and 456 (39.6%) were girls. The prevalence of overweight was 10.83% (10.88% boys and 10.74% girls) and that of obesity was 5.11% (4.30% boys and 6.36% girls). At the same time, 9.73% children were underweight using BMI for age/gender as criteria. Obesity was more in adolescent girls. The proportion of overweight and obesity increased with age in girls. The number of children identified as underweight, overweight/obese was more when BMI for age/gender was used as criteria. CONCLUSIONAmongst the various anthropometric parameters used to assess nutritional status in children and adolescents, BMI for age/gender is a better indicator for early recognition of undernutrition as well as overnutrition during mid-childhood and adolescence period. By monitoring BMI in all children, Healthcare professionals can play a significant role in preventing undernutrition as well as overweight and obesity amongst school children. KEYWORDSChildren, Body Mass Index, Overweight, Obesity, Prevalence. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: BACKGROUNDThe children in developing countries including India presently suffer from the double threat of overnutrition and undernutrition due to a rapid epidemiological, nutritional and demographic transitions. (1.2) Due to targeted interventions to address the problem of undernutrition, the prevalence of undernutrition is on decline, but at the same