A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RURAL AREA RAJASTAHAN

Abstract

Background: Over the past few years in India, childhood overweight and obesity is increasingly being observed with the changing lifestyle of families with inadequate exercises and unhealthy food lifestyles.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Government High Schools (8-10th standards) with a sample size of 100. Required number of students from each class was selected using systematic random sampling.

Results: The overweight students were mainly boys and the underweight students were mainly girls. Nutritional value of the majority of students was poor due to consumption of junk foods, lack of exercise, outdoor activities, inadequate intake of food and imbalanced diet.

Conclusion: In the present study, majority of high school students in 8th, 9th, and 10th standards were underweight, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity were less.

Keywords: Overweight, Underweight, Rural