Nutritional Status of Adolescents in the Kamrup-metropolitan District of Assam, India: A Comparative Study between Rural and Urban

Abstract

Adolescents serve as the foundational resources and future citizens of the nation. India boasts the highest number of adolescents globally, with a staggering count of 253 million individuals falling between the age range of 10 to 19 years, while Assam is ranked thirteenth among the many states and Union territories in India, with a total adolescent population of 65,60,308. During the stage of adolescence, there is a notable surge in growth. With this background, the present study was carried out to study and compare the nutritional status of rural and urban adolescents of the Kamrup-metropolitan district of Assam. Based on the purposive sampling technique, a totalof 200 adolescents were selected. A standardised pre-tested questionnaire was developed to collect information on somatic status and dietary intake. Findings revealed that the majority ofindividuals in both Urban and Rural areas have a BMI of less than 18.5, but the prevalence wasslightly higher in the rural group (56.0%) compared to the Urban group (53.0%). Urban respondents (25.4 cm, 11.28 mm) had a slightly higher mean MUAC and TSF than rural respondents (23.7 cm, 11.19mm). There is a notable difference in the amount of nutrients consumed by adolescents compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Energy intake is below the recommended levels, with adequacy percentages varying from 78.6% to82.4%, indicating a critical area of concern. Conversely, Visible fat intake is above RDA, ranging from 110.8% to 118.2%, highlighting potential overconsumption in this category. Adolescents were observed to have deficiencies in vitamins A, C, and folic acid compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).