COMPARATIVE STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF VEGETARIAN AND NON-VEGETARIAN ADOLESCENTS OF PRANAMINAGAR, BHADRAPUR

Abstract

A community based cross sectional study was carried out to assess nutrition status of vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent population of Pranami Nagar, Bhadrapur. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data of 180 subjects. Anthropometric measurements were used to determine BMI z-scores and height for weight z-scores. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using WHO Anthroplus v1.0.4, SPSS 26 and Microsoft Excel. T test, Chi-square test and fisher’s exact test were used for necessary analysis. The analysis of the study revealed, the prevalence of stunting, thinness and overweight/obesity in vegetarians was 28.95%, 13.17% and 15.79% respectively and in non vegetariansit was 38.47%, 17.31% and 6.73% respectively. Significant differencesin height, weight, BMI z-score, height for weight z-score, calorie intake and carbohydrate intake were seen among vegetarian and non-vegetarian boys. No significant difference in anthropometric measurements and dietary intakes were seen among girls. In vegetarians, place of eating, adequacy of physical activity and adequacy of protein intake were found associated with stunting while gender, occupation of father, food source, sleeping hour and adequacy of calories were associated with thinness and overweight/obesity. In non-vegetarians, ethnicity, religion, occupation of father, number of siblings, consumption of milk and milk products, green leafy vegetable and meat, fish, egg were associated with stunting. While type of family, occupation of father, family income and consumption of green leafy vegetables and other vegetables were associated with thinness. Properly planned interventions from authorities should certainly enhance the nutritional status of the target population.