DOI Number: 10.5958/j.0976-5506.4.3.

066
136 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. January-March 2014, Vol. 5, No. 1

Nutritional Profile of College Going Girls Residing in

Urban Udaipur City

Shashi Jain1, Monica Dungarwal2, Mamta Kumari3

1
Associate Professor, Deptt of Foods & Nutrition, College of Home Science, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 2Lecturer,
Govt. Girls College, Nathdwara, Rajasthan, India, 3PhD Scholar, Deptt of Foods & Nutrition, College of Home Science,
MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Young adult females are the productive citizen of the country. Their productivity
depends on good nutritional and health status which is necessary for continuous development of the
nation. Therefore the present study was undertaken to assess the nutritional profile of young college
going girls.

Methodology: A baseline survey was conducted on 300 college going adult girls aged 18 to 25 years
of Udaipur. A group of 18 to 25 years girls were selected by accidental sampling method. An interview
schedule was developed to collect information about the subject and their family. The nutritional
status was assessed by anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist hip circumference and
skin fold thickness at bicep, triceps, sub scapular and suprailiac sites), clinical and biochemical
examinations using standardized techniques. Body mass index, weight for height, waist hip ratio
and body composition were also calculated to assess the nutritional status.

Results: Nutritional status assessed by different body measurements and indices gave varied
prevalence of malnutrition among the females studied. Mean BMI and weight for height (%) revealed
that the study group had normal weight for height. Clinical signs of anaemia were not common
among these females indicating that sub clinical stage of anaemia was present.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that anaemia was the most common problem of this group. Thus
government should not only focus National Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme strictly but also action
plans should be introduced at community and individual level to overcome the same.

Keywords: Nutritional Status, Body Mass Index, Malnutrition, Anthropomentric Measurements

INTRODUCTION young women who are at the threshold of adulthood

Nutritional status is defined as the health of an
individual which is affected by the intake and
utilization of the nutrients. Deficiency, excess and
imbalance of nutrients resulting in impairment of
health known as malnutrition. Malnutrition is the
primary cause for wastage of human resources and a
subsequent degradation of the society.
Women occupy an important position in any effort
for controlling malnutrition as they are entirely
responsible for the nutritional status of the family and
hence the nation. It is thus imperative that she
maintains good health. In recent years, there is
increasing concern regarding the nutritional status of
and constitute an important segment of vulnerable
group. The problem of under-nutrition in developing
countries encompasses a spectrum of deficiency of one
or more of the three micronutrients iron, vitamin A
and iodine and macronutrients especially energy and
protein. Anaemia is one of the glaring deficiency in
women, which they acquire from childhood and
increase in extent and magnitude during the
reproductive age.
The under nutrition among young women is likely
to limit the nations labour productivity. Thus the
optimum nutritional status of young women can be
considered as an indicator of development. Therefore

32. Mamta--136-140.pmd 136 11/29/2013, 3:21 PM

 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. January-March 2014, Vol. 5, No. 1 137
present study was undertaken to assess the nutritional
status of college girls for development of a scientifically
sound and economically feasible nutrition strategy.
METHODOLOGY
In order to study the nutritional status of college
girls of Udaipur, 300 girls with age range of 18-25 years
were selected by accidental sampling method. For this
purpose, a list of girls college situated in different parts
of Udaipur was prepared. Number of girls were
selected from these colleges in proportion to their total
strength. Detailed information of socio-economic
background of the subjects and their medical history
was collected by using pretested interview schedule.
The nutritional status of these girls was assessed using
standardized techniques of anthropometric, clinical
and biochemical parameters. Anthropometric
measurements included height, weight, skin fold
thickness at bicep, triceps, sub scapular and suprailiac
sites and waist hip circumference. Body mass index,
waist hip ratio and body composition i.e. body fat, fat
free mass and body water were also calculated for each
of the girl. The weight and height observed were then
compared with NCHS (1977)1 50th percentile value for
girls. Prevalence of malnutrition by weight for age,
height for age, weight for height and triceps skin fold
was assessed as per the classification suggested by
Mclaren (1976)2. BMI values were interpreted as per
the 7 classes of BMI suggested by Games et al. (1988)3
and recommended by NIN (1991)4. By adding four sites
skin folds body density was calculated. Per cent body
fat was calculated from body density using Siri’s
equation5 [% Body Fat = (495 / Body Density) – 450].
Further fat free mass and body water was calculated
assuming 73.2% fat free mass is water. Clinical
examination was conducted to assess the signs of
anaemia. Haemoglobin level was estimated by
cyanmethaemoglobin method as described by Dacie
and Lewis (1975)6. Those having the values less than
12g/dl were considered as anaemic.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Background Information:
A total of 300 girls doing graduation and post
graduation were studied. Majority of girls i.e. 74 per
cent were Hindu. Eighty five per cent were vegetarian
and about sixty per cent of families were nuclear. The
data on family composition showed that family size is
32. Mamta--136-140.pmd 137
neither very small nor very big and female proportion
was more than the male in the families. The mean per
capita income of the families was Rs. 2515.90 and all
were from middle socio-economic status. Health
problems were not present among girls at the time of
study except two girls had high blood pressure. Only
17 per cent of girls were performing exercise to keep
their body fit or to reduce their body weight.
Symptoms of anaemia such as fatigue, weakness,
headache, dyspepsia were common among the study
group.
Anthropometric Measurements and Body
Composition
Nutritional Status as percentage to standard
The mean values of different body measurements
are given in Table I. Mean body weight of girls were
45.56 kg which was 80.48% of the weight suggested
by NCHS 50th percentile value for 18 year old girls and
91.11% of the weight suggested by ICMR for a
reference Indian women.
Mean height of girls were 94.86 per
cent of the weight suggested by NCHS 50 th
percentile value given for 18 year old girls, revealing
that mean height of the girls studied were normal.
These values (mean height and weight) were more or
less paralleled with the other reported studies (Rathna,
1994 7; Harshala and Premkumari 2000 8; Venkata
Lakshmi and Peramma 20009). Bains and Mann (2000)10
reported slightly higher values for height and weight
of women in the age groups of 18 to 23 years, which
may be attributed to the dietary pattern in Punjab. It
was also observed that the girls in the present study
were taller than the reference height of Indian women
(151 cm) but they were lighter than the reference
weight of Indian women (50kg). Mean BMI and
percent weight for height of these adult females were
18.86kg/m2 and 103.66 respectively, which revealed
that these adult females were normal by weight for
height but as per BMI categories they were low weight
normal. Skin fold thickness at bicep, triceps, sub
scapular and suprailiac sites were 6.77, 11.21, 13.72 and
15.52mm respectively. The values of skin folds were
highest at suprailiac sites indicating this is a major site
of fat deposition among the college girls. Mean triceps
percent as standard was 67.95. Mean waist and hip
circumference were 70.94 and 88.53cm respectively
with the mean waist hip ratio of 0.80.
11/29/2013, 3:21 PM
 138 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. January-March 2014, Vol. 5, No. 1

Table I: Mean ± SD values of anthropometric Prevalence of Malnutrition

measurements and indices of adult females
Nutritional status assessed by different body
S. No. Body measurements/ Indices Mean ± SD values
1 Age 19.10 ± 1.41 measurements and indices gave varied prevalence of
2 Weight (kg) 45.56 ± 5.70 malnutrition among the girls studied. It can be seen
3 Height (cm) 155.31 ± 5.45 from table II that only 16 per cent subjects were normal
4 Weight/ age (%) 80.48 ± 10.41
by NCHS weight for 18 year old girls while 91.67 per
5 Height/ age (%) 94.86 ± 3.33
6 Weight/ height (%) 103.66 ± 11.82
cent of subjects by height, 66 per cent by weight for
7 BMI (kg/m2) 18.86 ± 2.05 height, 21.67 per cent by BMI, 13.33 per cent by triceps
8 Biceps (mm) 6.77 ± 1.67 skin fold and 89 per cent by waist hip ratio were found
9 Triceps (mm) 11.21 ± 2.98 in normal categories. One per cent subject by weight,
10 Sub scapular (mm) 13.72 ± 3.66
BMI and triceps skin fold, 22 per cent by weight for
11 Suprailiac (mm) 15.52 ± 3.78
12 Total of four skin folds (mm) 47.22 ± 3.02
height and 11.7 per cent by waist hip ratio were found
13 Triceps (%) 67.95 ± 18.05 over nourished. Remaining were suffering from
14 Waist circumference 70.94 ± 5.78 different grades of under nutrition indicating that
15 Hip circumference 88.53 ± 5.29 chronic form of malnutrition was prevalent among the
16 Waist hip ratio 0.80 ± 0.04
college girls of the present investigation.

Table II: Percentage distribution of adult females by grades of malnutrition using various body measurements and
indices.
S. No. Body measurements/ indices Types of malnutrition Percentage
1 Weight/age percentage
a) <60 Severe -
b) 60-80 Moderate 58.67
c) 80-90 Mild 24
d) 90-110 Normal 16.33
e) 110-120 Over weight 1
f) >120 Obese -
2 Height/age percentage
a) <80 Dwarf -
b) 80-90 Short 8.33
c) 90-105 Normal 91.67
d) >105 Giant -
3 Weight/height percentage
a) <75 Severe 0.33
b) 75-85 Moderate 3.33
c) 85-90 Mild 8.34
d) 90-110 Normal 66
e) 110-120 Overweight 13
f) >120 Obese 9
4 Body Mass Index (BMI)
a) <16.0 Severe 7
b) 16.0-17.0 Moderate 11
c) 17.0-18.5 Mild 26.33
d) 18.5-20.0 Low weight normal 33
e) 20.0-25.0 Normal 21.67
f) 25.0-30.0 Obese grade I 1
g) >30.0 Obese grade II -
5 Triceps skin fold as percentage of standard
a) <60
b) 60-80 Severe 36.33
c) 80-90 Moderate 37.76
d) 90-110 Mild 11.67
e) 110-120 Normal 13.33
f) >120 Over nutrition 0.67
Obese 0.33
6 Waist-Hip ratio
a) ≥0.85 Normal 89
b) >0.85 Increase risk of chronic diseases 11

32. Mamta--136-140.pmd 138 11/29/2013, 3:21 PM

 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. January-March 2014, Vol. 5, No. 1 139

Body composition reported that all subjects under study exhibited lower
haemoglobin range than of standard.
Body composition calculated by skin fold thickness
showed that body fat of the college girls was 11.41 kg Clinical Examination
(24.83%). Fat free mass and body water were 34.14kg
(75.17%) and 24.99kg (54.85%) respectively (Table III), Clinical signs of anaemia observed among college
which was near to normal body composition of girls of Udaipur were pale tongue (0.66%), pallor skin
individual at maturity. (0.66%), koilonychias (0.33%) and oedema of ankle
(1.00%). These results depicted that clinical signs of
Table III: Mean ± SD values of body composition of anaemia were not much prevalent among college girls
adult females under the study. The results of the present study are
S. No. Details Mean ± SD values parallel with the results of Bains and Mann (2000)10
1. Body fat (%) 24.83±3.47 who recorded that only few number of subjects i.e. only
2. Body fat (Kg) 11.41±2.67 2 per cent had the signs of pale conjunctiva whereas, a
3. Fat free mass (kg) 34.14±3.56 higher percentage of clinical signs were reported by
4. Fat free mass (%) 75.17±3.47 Harshala and Premakumari (2000)8 and most common
5. Total body weight (kg) 24.99±2.61 clinical signs among women aged 24 to 39 years were
6. FFM without water (kg) 9.15±0.96 pallor of face, thinness of hair, xerosis of skin, chelosis,
bleeding gums and muscular cramps. This may be due
Biochemical Examination (Haemoglobin level) to the fact that appearance of clinical signs depends
on the severity of anaemia and in present investigation
It can be seen from table IV that the mean
prevalence of severe form of anaemia was only one
haemoglobin level observed was 10.4 g/dl. Similar
per cent. This emphasize that the subclinical iron
results were also observed by Harshala and
deficiency is more prevalent in college girls of middle
Premakumari (2000) 7 and Upadhyay and Kumar
socio-economic status of Udaipur.
(2001) 11 . On the contrary, Vijaylakshmi and
Selvasundari (1983) 12, Vijaylakshmi and Jayanthi
(1986)13 and Vijaylakshmi et al. (1987)14 reported low CONCLUSION
haemoglobin in the women of their studies, which The present study concluded that college girls were
were 9.7, 8.8, 9.4 g/dl respectively, in comparison to suffering from different grades of malnutrition and
present study. This may be due to the reason that the were in negative iron balance. If their nutritional status
haemoglobin is governed by dietary intake of the could be improved, the health and economic status of
individual. the country can be changed. This study thus suggest
Table IV: Percentage prevalence of anaemia in adult that a strategic plan to be introduced at government
females and community level to overcome the anaemia and
under-nutrition among adult females of child bearing
S. No. Haemoglobin level (g/dl) Type of anaemia Percentage
age.
1 <7.0 Severe 1
2 7.0-9.9 Moderate 43.33 Conflict of Interest: Nil
3 10.0-11.9 Mild 28
4 ≥ 12.0 Normal 27.67
REFERENCES
Mean heamoglobin (g/dl) - Mean ± SD
values
1. NCHS. Growth survey for children, birth to 18
10.40 ± 1.66
years, Data from the National Health Survey.
Iron deficiency anaemia was observed among 72.33 Vital Health Statistics 1977;11(165):28 (US
per cent college girls in present study. Similar results Department of Health Education and Welfare).
were also observed in other studies. A study conducted 2. Mclaren DS. Nutritional Assessment. In: Text
in Mumbai, India reported that 82.2 per cent of child book of Pediatrics nutrition. Mclaren DS and
bearing age women fall below recommended level Burman D. Eds, Churchill Livingstone, New
(Brabin et al. 2000)15. Rathna (1994)7 and Upadhyay and York. 1976.
Kumar (2001)12 reported that only 11.5 and 14.47 per 3. James WPT., Ferro Luizzi A. and Waterlow JC.
cent women were normal respectively. On the contrary, The definition of chronic energy deficiency in
Harshala and Premakumari (1995)8 and Baghel (2001)16 adults- Report of working party of the

32. Mamta--136-140.pmd 139 11/29/2013, 3:21 PM

 140 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. January-March 2014, Vol. 5, No. 1
intervention dietary energy consultation group.
Eur. J. Clin Nutr. 1988;42:969.
4. NIN. Maternal Body Mass Index and Birth
Weight (Naidu AN., Neila J. and Pralhad Rao N.)
Nutrition News. 1991;(12)2:1
5. Siri, WE. (1961). Body composition from fluid
space and density. In J. Brozek & A. Hanschel
(Eds.), Techniques for measuring body
composition (pp. 223-244). Washington, DC:
National Academy of Science.
6. Dacie JV. and Lewis SM. Practical haematology.
Churchill and Livingstone. 1975;5:31
7. Rathna. Nutritional status of women working in
ginning mills. Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet. 1994;31:151.
8. Harshala R. and Premakumari S. Health and
nutritional status of working women in
Coimbatore and their exposure to occupational
hazards. Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet. 2000;37:350.
9. Venkata Lakshmi P. and Peramma D. Body
weight and physical work capacity. Ind J Nutr.
Dietet. 2000;37:255.
10. Bains K. and Mann SK. Subclinical iron deficiency.
A major factor in reducing physical fitness of
32. Mamta--136-140.pmd 140
young women. Ind J. Nutr. Dietet. 2000;37:296.
11. Upadhyay S. and Kumar AR. Nutritional and
Haemoglobin status of Hill women. XXXIV
Annual Meeting of NSI. NIN, Hyderabad.
2001;75.
12. Vijaylakshmi P. and Selvasundari S. Relationship
between iron deficiency anaemia and energy
expenditure of young adult women. Ind. J. Nutr.
Dietet. 1983;20:113.
13. Vijaylakshmi P. and Jayanthi N. Anaemia and
work output. Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet. 1986;23:279.
14. Vijaylakshmi P., Kupputhai U. and Uma
Maheswari V. Anaemia and work output of farm
women. Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet. 1987;24:233.
15. Brabin L., Nicholas S., Gogate A., Gogate S. and
Karande A. Higher prevalence of anaemia among
women in Mumbai, India. 2000; website:
www.unu.edu/unpress/food
16. Baghel AS. Prevalence of nutritional anaemia in
slum women. XXXIV Annual Meeting of NSI.
NIN, Hyderabad. 2001;64.
11/29/2013, 3:21 PM