Ambivalence in distinguishing double burden of malnutrition among school children in three districts of south India

• Published in: Clinical epidemiology and global health 2021-10, Vol.12, p.100805, Article 100805
• Main Authors: Hombaiah, Chandana, Bilimale, Anil S., Madhu, B., Narayana Murthy, M.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent nutrition; Body mass index (BMI); Dual burden; Growth chart; Obesity
• ISSN: 2213-3984; 2213-3984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100805

To assess the nutritional status of school-going children in the age group 6–17 years and to compare BMI growth percentile charts of WHO and IAP (Indian Academy of Paediatrics). A cross-sectional study was conducted among school children aged 6–17 years studying in 44 schools of three districts in South India, between 2018 and 2019. A total of 8688 students were assessed for their height and weight. Anthropometric data were plotted on both WHO and IAP BMI charts. There were 50.1% boys and 49.9% girls; 32.1% were urban and 67.9% from rural localities. According to the WHO BMI chart, 14.7% of the school students were severely thin, 15.8% were thin, 6.9% were overweight and 2.2% were obese. Under-nutrition among boys was 9.7% more prevalent than girls. Overweight prevalence was higher in girls (9.6%); 4.1% higher prevalence among urban than rural girls. The difference between the two BMI chart measurements for