Evaluation of nutritional status in adolescents in relation to their dietary habits and physical activity

Aims: To determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in healthy adolescents as well as to establish the relationship of nutritional status with dietary habits and physical activity. Material & methods: Across sectional, observational study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital for 12 months, which included 407 adolescent students of different socio economic group. Anthropometric measurements were taken and information regarding dietary habits, physical activity, TV watching habits and computer work were noted in a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was done by SPSS v 17. Pearson’s Chi- square test was used. Results: Total 407 students of age group 11 to 16 years including 185 boys and 222 girls participated in the study.19.42% students were underweight, 64.61% were healthy weight, 12.29% were overweight and 3.68% were obese. A significant correlation was found between the different age groups and nutritional status. Mean caloric intake in underweight students was 1545.51 and2209.13 in obese students, with statistically significant relation between nutritional status and average diet. Statistically significant correlation found between decreased physical activity & overweight/obesity, as well as between increased duration of TV watching & computer work and overweight/obesity. Conclusion: A baseline level of nutritional status of healthy adolescents is developed in the present study. Nutritional status of adolescent school going children is related with their dietary habits & physical activity.