Energy intakes, anthropometry and body composition of Nigerian adolescent girls: a case study of an institutionalized secondary school in Ibadan

Abstract

Twenty-two apparently healthy Nigerian adolescent girls aged 11-17 years residing in a hostel, were studied over five consecutive days in order to assess their energy intake (EI), energy cost of specific activities and body composition (BC). The mean characteristics of the group were: height 1.58 (SD 0.1, range 1.42-1-68) m, body weight 49.1 (SD 7.9, range 344-61-0) kg and BMI 19-5 (SD 2.0, range 16-0-23.0) kg/m2. The food intake of each subject was assessed by direct weighing and its energy value was determined by means of a ballistic bomb calorimeter. BMR values were calculated according to Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University (FAO/WHO/UNU) (1985) equations. Percentage body fat (BF %) values were derived from three skinfold thickness measurements, using population-specific equations. The adolescents' mean daily EI was found to be 6510 (SD 855) kJ/d (138.3 (SD 27.8) kJ/kg budy weight per d) which is lower than the FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) calculated energy requirement of 8800 kJ/d for adolescent girls aged 12-14 years. The contributions of specific nutrients and individual meals to the total EI were: carbohydrate, protein and fat, 59.2, 12.5 and 28.3 % of energy respectively and breakfast, lunch and supper, 21.5, 41-0 and 37-4 % respectively. However, the mean BMR was 5627kJ/d, which is comparable with that given by FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) for adolescent girls aged 13-14 years. The mean BF % was found to be 21.7. The comparatively low EI of the participants in the present study may be indicative of energy deficiency in their meals. This assumption is also reflected in their BC values. Nevertheless, further studies of this kind on adolescents in Nigeria are needed to confirm these observations. Energy intake: Anthropometry: Indirect calorimetry: Body composition: Adolescence Energy and nutrient intakes are important health variables particularly during adolescence. This is because the adolescent years are periods of great physical and emotional change during which a child develops and enters adulthood. The physical changes occur over a relatively short period of time, usually about 2 years for Europeans and Americans, and 2-4 years in some cases for Africans (Barasi 8z Mottram, 1992). There are substantial gains in height and body weight, these being greater for boys than for girls.No previous studies of the energy intake (EI), energy cost of specific activities (ECSA), indirect calorimetry (IC), skinfold thickness (SFT) and body composition (BC) have been carried out on adolescents in Nigeria. Although information on adolescents' energy and nutrient intakes abounds in the literature for the United States, UK, Germany and Australia, there is a paucity of corresponding information for any country in Africa.

Gender and Rural–urban Differences in the Nutritional Status of in-School Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria

“…The neglect of the study of adolescent nutrition still persists in Nigeria, and there are few studies focusing on nutritional health during this period of increased nutritional need. Study samples have been limited to girls, sexual maturity has not been taken into consideration, correlates have not been determined and in some studies international growth standards have not been used for comparison (Dieojomaoh & Faal, 1982;Brabin et al, 1997;Cole et al, 1997;Fawole et al, 2005). One study reported twice the rate of stunting (10.4%) in rural compared with urban (4.7%) girls in south-east Nigeria (Brabin et al, 1997).…”

Association of Energy Balance and Protein Intake With Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls in a Rural Area of Haryana

“…Association of energy balance and nutritional status has been explored by some workers. 21,22,23,24 In this study when the nutritional status of adolescent girls was assessed against their energy balance, it was evident that under-nutrition was higher in subjects with negative energy balance than those with positive balance. However, association was statistically not significant but role of negative energy balance in causation of under nutrition is well documented 21,25 and this area needs to be explored in a longitudinal manner.…”

Development of Meharry Medical College Prostate Cancer Research Program

“…Energy derived from fat is estimated at 34% in African Americans as reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 32 and 20%-25% in both rural and urban West African countries. 33,34 The direction of the difference in sub-group fatty acid totals between African Americans and Nigerians was not consistent, an indication of food preferences across both populations. Nigerians recorded higher saturated fatty acid, n-9 fatty acid from vegetable fats particularly red palm oil and coconut milk, and omega-3 fatty acids from their diet high in fish content.…”

“…Fish remains the main source of animal protein in this population, 32 a relic of the historical eating pattern of shoreline Africans. 33 Oleic and mead acids derived from animal and plant sources were highest among men with low education, suggesting deficiency of dietary essential FA. 34 Plasma and tissue FA compositions are more objective exposure measures than dietary assessment estimations from FFQs, and concentrations in the plasma phospholipids and cholesterol ester fractions better reflect mediumterm (weeks to months) dietary intake.…”