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ISSN 2063-5346
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DIETARY PRACTICES, NUTRIENT ADEQUACY AND NUTRITION STATUS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN RURAL AREAS OF TIRUPATI

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Visweswara Rao Guthi, Pattem Sudhapriya, K. Keerthinmayee, Ravisankar Deekala, Neeraja Kolar, Praveena Ganapa
» doi: 10.31838/ecb/2023.12.s3.404

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a unique stage in the life cycle as it is receptive to developing new ideas and lifestyle behaviours and to adopting and consolidating sound and healthy dietary habits. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of thinness and stunting among adolescent girls and to identify the factors predicting the occurrence of thinness and stunting. Methods: The present study was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted among adolescent girls between 10-19 years old. A total of 188 adolescent girls participated in the study. Socio-demographic, environmental factors and dietary habits were collected. BMI for age and Height for age were calculated to assess the nutritional status. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of thinness and stunting. Results: In this study prevalence of thinness and stunting was 17% (95%CI: 11.9%-23.2%) and 7.98% (95%CI: 4.5%-12.8%) respectively. Thinness was significantly high among girls with family size of more than 5, habit of skipping meal and taking NAR calories of less than 70%. Stunting was significantly high among girls with family size less than 5, habit of skipping meals and habit of spiritual fasting, and taking NAR calories of less than 70%. Conclusions: It is concluded from the study that a considerable proportion of adolescent girls were present with thinness and stunting. It is recommended that appropriate measures need to be taken to prevent thinness and stunting as this group constitutes a sizeable portion of the Indian mothers of our next generation and their health and well-being are significantly important for improving the nutritional health of women of the nation.

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