title: Nutrient intake and growth of adolescents in southern Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth and dietary intake data are essential for formulation of nutritional policies and interventions for children.
  
  
  METHODS
  945 school children (11-16 years) were subjected to growth assessment and their nutrient intake was determined using the 24-hour dietary recall method on three consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21.3% of boys and 21.1% of girls were stunted (-2SD below the median height-for-age). 141 (14.9%) children were both stunted and wasted (-2 SD below the median weight-for-age). Mean body mass index of girls was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than boys at all ages. The mean daily dietary intake of energy was 3.2 (+/- 2.4) MJ, protein 29.1 (+/- 2.1) g, fat 4.5 (+/- 1.1) g, iron 11.5 (+/- 1.0) mg, and zinc 0.8 (+/- 0.7) mg among boys. Among girls, energy intake was 4.2 (+/- 1.8) MJ, protein 29.0 (+/- 2.3) g, fat 4.4 (+/- 1.0) g, iron 11.4 (+/- 1.0) mg, and zinc 0.5 (+/- 0.6) mg. Fat comprised about 4.0% of the daily energy intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rate of growth deficiency and undernutrition among adolescents mandates innovative nutritional intervention strategies. The observed mean intakes of nutrients in the sample showed a worrisome deviation from the recommendations of the dietary guidelines for Sri Lanka.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. nmu_galle@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manjula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hettiarachchi
authors.forename: Chandrani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liyanage
authors.forename: Rajitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wickremasinghe
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hilmers
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abrams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002648:Child; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology