Growth Pattern and Prevalence of Underweight and Stunting Among Rural Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: A cross-sectional study of 1094 (boys = 665; girls = 429) rural school children aged 11-18 years of Midnapore Sadar North subdivision, Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to evaluate their growth pattern and nutritional status. Methodology: Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were measured following standard techniques. Underweight and stunting were used as indicators of nutritional status. Underweight and stunting were defined as weight-for-age (WAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ)