Nutrient intake and growth of adolescents in southern Sri Lanka.
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.
Hettiarachchi
Manjula
M
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. nmu_galle@yahoo.com
Liyanage
Chandrani
C
Wickremasinghe
Rajitha
R
Hilmers
David
D
Abrams
Steven
S
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