Nutritional status of adolescents in rural Wardha

Abstract

Majority (53.8%) of the adolescents in this study area are thin and only 2.2% were overweight.

Prevalence of Stunting and Thinness Among Adolescent Girls Belonging to the Rajbanshi Population of West Bengal, India

“…Undernutrition continues to be a major public health issue and a principal cause of ill-health condition 1,6 . The assessment of undernutrition bears great signifi cance in India; where a signifi cant proportion of the population is suffering from different grades of undernutrition [1][2][3]7,9,10,31 .…”

“…A number of studies have reported the prevalence of stunting as a major nutritional problem among adolescents in India (Table 2). A high prevalence of stunting has been documented from Assam (51.90%) 8 , West Bengal (52.46%) 19 ,Wardha (50.70%) 6 , North Indian (37.20%) 40 and Karbi Anglong, Assam (51.20%) 29 . The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) data showed that approximately 39.00%…”

“…The exceptional rapid growth during this stage is characterized by enormous individual variations that pose diffi culty in defi ning normality 4 . The nutritional status of adolescent girls, who are the future mothers, bears special importance as they contribute signifi cantly to the overall nutritional status and health of the concerned population or community 5,6,7,8,9,10 . As a group, they are a potentially nutritionally vulnerable one in view of rapid growth and maturation of this period which demands extra nutrients and energy-rich foods 8 .…”

“…It may further be associated with many concurrent and future adverse health outcomes, including poor reproductive outcome in girls perpetuating the vicious cycle of malnutrition 5,6,10 .…”

“…Studies have also confi rmed that undernutrition among young women of childbearing age is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as intrauterine growth-restricted or low birth weight infants 4,6,28,30 . However, studies are relatively less on the prevalence of undernutrition among individuals belonging to these populations.…”