BMI;

DIETARY PRACTICS OF SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN AND THEIR BMI MAY PREDICT FUTURE HEALTH HAZARDS.

Abstract

Malnutrition results in the death of about 54 percent of all child death each year.
From the time of birth of a children to the growing age nutrition and balanced diet is one of the
major concerns of parents and the nutritionists. Many different ways are devised to assess the
nutritional status of the child. One of the widely accepted tools is to measure the Body Mass
Index (BMI) of child. BMI provides a non-interventional and easy method for early diagnosis of
malnutrition. Objectives: To determine current dietary practices among school going children
and highlight the health risks associated with abnormal BMI. Place and Duration: Government
setup, Primary and Middle Schools of Islamabad were visited, from 1st August 2015 to 31st
November 2015. Study Design: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study. Patients and
Methods: A sample size of 184 was taken. Parents of class 6, 7 and 8 included. Parents were
asked to fill with diaries of students and was taken back after 3 days. Height and weight was
taken. Results: Out of 184, male students were 109 and female students were 71. 125 children
took breakfast. 61 eat vegetables 3 times a week and 3 twice a week. 16 children never eat
vegetables. 103 children had good appetite. Conclusion: Dietary habits in children in urban
area is satisfactory, but slightly increase tendency towards unhealthy food is observed.