Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood. Health and nutrition of the girls will affect the health and survival of future generation. However, there is very little information about the nutritional status of adolescents, particularly from rural areas in India. In view of the above facts, an attempt was made to assess the nutri- tional status of rural adolescent girls.
Objective: To assess the nutritional status of adolescent girls.
Materials and Methods: This one-year community-based, cross-sectional study was undertaken at a village of district Belgaum, Karnataka among 400 adolescent girls of 10–19 years. Information on socio-demographic variables was collected by an interview using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were recorded for assessing the nutritional status. Result: The mean weight of adolescent girls in all age groups was better than Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) standards except in the ages 10, 12, and 13 years. The mean height of adolescent girls in all age groups was better than ICMR standards except in the ages 11, 12, 13, and 18 years. The prevalence of thinness in adolescent girls was 62% and prevalence of overweight was 2%. Conclusion: Majority of adolescent girls had mean height and mean weight in all age groups better than ICMR standards. More than half of adolescent girls were thin. None of the girls aged 15–19 years were obese.