Relationship between nutrition status, intelligence and academic performance of Lambani school children of Bellary district, Karnataka

The study was conducted on the nutritional status and academic achievement of 135 students and randomly selected 75 students for assessment of intelligence on Lambani school children at Hoovinahadagali Taluk, Bellary district during 2012–13. In nutritional status the mean height of younger and older children was almost similar. In both the groups mean height was found lower than NCHS standard value by 6.87–11.78 per cent. Similarly weight in both age groups was found lower than NCHS standard by 8.08 per cent in 9 years and 9.76 per cent in older age group. More than 50 per cent of Lambani children were suffering from malnutrition. In verbal and performance tests in younger group majority (22.66%) fell in average IQ. Among the malnourished children 37.33 per cent average IQ students had stunted and 14.66 per cent had wasted and stunted malnutrition. Maximum students (17.03%) had stunted malnutrition and secured B followed by 8.88 per cent B⁺ grade. Maximum B grade achievers(37.33%) followed by Agrade achievers (17.33%) had average IQ in the range of 90–109. There was significant association between nutrition status and intelligence quotient and nutrition status and academic achievement of children. No significant correlation was observed between academic achievement and intelligence quotient. Significant association was found between academic achievement and intelligence quotient.