Assessment of the nutritional status of children

A study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of school going children (10–13 years) of Yamunanagar and Jagadhri districst 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 Jagadhri 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 pre adolescents 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. Suboptimum nutritional status of the children was due to fewer intakes of energy, protein and iron rich foods in both the districts.