Assessment of nutritional status of school going children of Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts

A study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of school going children (10–13 years) of Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana. The anthropometric measurements revealed that the height of boys and girls (10–12 years and boys 13 years) of both the districts did not differ significantly (P<0.05) among themselves whereas the girls of 13 years of Yamunanagar district had significantly (p<0.05) more height than those belonging to Panchkula district. However, the boys and girls of both the age groups in both the districts had significantly (p<0.05) less body weight as compared to NCHS values. The body mass index values of preadolescents of both the age groups were also below the normal values in both the districts. The children of both the age groups from both the districts had significantly (p<0.05) less haemoglobin levels than the standard values. Sub-optimum nutritional status of the children was due to fewer intakes of energy, protein and iron rich foods in both the districts.