English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: BMI is a good indicator of levels of body fat, and it is known that having a BMI that is either too low or too high is associated with an increased risk of ill health during childhood as well as later in life. BMI is relatively quick and easy to calculate and as a result, is used for population surveys and by health professionals when assessing individual patients. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of wasted, overweight and obese children in an urban slum using WHO child growth standards BMI cut offs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study included 150 urban slum children of whom 77 were boys and 73 were girls. Anthropometric data in the form of height in cms and weight in kgs were collected by standard methods as reported by D. B. Jelliffe. BMI was calculated. Analysis of data was done according to WHO child growth standards. RESULTS: The prevalence of wasting was 25.97% in boys and 24.65% in girls. Among boys 1.29% were at risk of overweight, 2.59% were overweight, 2.59% were obese. Among girls 5.47% were at risk of overweight and 2.73% were obese. CONCLUSION: It can concluded from the study that undernutrition remains the main problem than overnutrition. However, the rapid changes in the dietary patterns and life styles occurring in many developing countries warrant close monitoring of overweight prevalence in children so that preventive measures can be taken in timely manner.