Munish Trehan, MS, Shruti Jain, Dietician
Dayanand Medical college
Introduction: About 25% of adolescents are over weight or obese, according to the newly established national criteria. These teens are at significant risk for becoming obese adult and adolescent abesity predisposes to a range of medical and psychosocial problems. Despite the enormous medical and economic implication of obesity, effective prevention and treatment strategies are lacking.
Methods: A random sample of 1000 female subjects, age ranging from 15-16 years from 10 public schools was selected. Their heights and weights were taken and BMI was calculated. Futher a sub sample of 50 obese (BMI > 85th percentile of age) and 50 non obese (BMI < 5th to 85th percentile of age) was selected . General information, anthropometic measurements, life style pattern, dietary intake and food habits were recorded.
Results: The prevalence of obesity was found to be 14.8% and heredity played no role. The heights and weights of obese and non obese subjects were compared with ICMR and NCHS standards. A significant difference (p < 0.01) between all the anthropometric parameters of obese and non obese subjects was found.
Conclusion: Faulty dietary habits were founds to be a major cause of weight gain among the adolescents. Energy and protein were found to be more than adequate, minerals and vitamins except iron were adequate in case of obese subjects whereas non obese subjects were deficient in energy , proteins, B- complex vitamins and iron as compared to RDAs. A significant difference (P <0.01) was found in the mean time spent by obese and non obese subjects on walking and playing computer games.
Session: Poster Presentation
Program Number: P466