Nutritional disorders in adolescent girls.
Four hundred and fifty four adolescent girls (11-18 years) were screened for nutritional disorders by anthropometry (weight, height and triceps skinfold measurements), clinical examination and hemoglobin estimation. Of these, 56% belonged to high socio-economic groups (Group A) and the rest (44%) to lower middle class (Group B). A large number of girls from Group B were undernourished (35.5% had weight/height2 less than the fifth percentile of reference standard) stressing the need for nutritional screening, nutrition and health education. Obesity was prevalent in 3.1% of Group A adolescents. Goitre grade I or more was observed in a high proportion of Group B girls, stressing the need for continued consumption of iodized salt in Delhi. Anemia appears to be a major health problem in adolescent girls in both groups (47, 56% in Groups A and B, respectively) underlying the ned for iron supplementation along with health education.
Kapoor
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.
Aneja
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors