Body mass index for age criteria: a school based study in Meerut (U. P)

Background: Under nutrition, overweight and obesity are important determinants of health leading to adverse metabolic changes and increase the risk of non communicable diseases, with the adoption of western lifestyle the problem of overweight and obesity is gradually increasing in children and adolescents. With this background a school based cross sectional study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status of school going children of urban area Meerut City UP, India Methods: A school based cross sectional study was conducted. A total of 4202 school students (05-18 years) were examined from one government and one private schools that were selected by simple random sampling method. Pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit the information on individual characteristics. Height and weight of the children were measured, BMI and other parameters were calculated. Results: On applying the BMI –for- age criteria 22.8% boys and 19.9% girls were found under weight while 04.1 % boys and 03.04 % girls were overweight , and 05.06% boys and 04.08% girls were found obese . 22.8% government and (16.00%) private school children were found under weight while 03.4 % government and 5.6 % private school students were overweight , and 03.8 % government and 11.8 % private school students were found obese . Conclusions: Proper dietary habits and lifestyle modification must be advised to children to prevent occurrence of under nutrition, overweight and obesity in them. Family environment plays important role in predisposing the children tounder nutrition, overweight/obesity and hence the interventions need to be directed towards the families