Food and Energy Intakes of Adolescent Girls from Different Deprived Communities

Abstract

The increase in energy needs with age reflects increase in the energy needed by basal metabolism, increased activity and increased growth of muscle and adipose tissue. The present investigation was undertaken and with a major objective of assessing the energy intakes of female adolescent girls (10-18 years) residing in rural areas and urban slums of Chittoor District. A group of age matched urban elite girls was also studied who acted as experimental control. The study sample of girls was selected by adopting multi stage sampling technique. The dietary survey of all the subjects was carried out to get food intake data for 3 alternated days in a week and by one day weighing method. Thus mean of 3 days in take was considered and mean of 3 days energy intakes were compared with recommended allowances of ICMR. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis, student t-test and analysis of variance was done for comparison among 4 different communities for dietary in takes. Results found that the mean calorie intakes of rural S.C. (RSC) as well as urban slum (USL) were far below the ICMR, RDA values in all age groups. The calorie gap ranges from 347-848 Kcal. Urban elite girls are better in their energy intakes than rural forward caste (RFC), Rural Scheduled Caste (RSC) and urban slum girls (USL). The difference between RDA and the intakes of calories by girls are statistically significant at 1% level. This trend is observed in all age and community groups. The calorie gaps present an important picture that growing girls from 10 years onwards are consuming roughly 500-800 kcal less than the ICMR, RDA. This high gap, calorie insult is an important causative factor for high incidence of chronic energy deficiency, under nutrition and low body weight of girl children. All these girls with poor nutritional status are running with negative energy balance which affects their physical work capacity and their overall nutritional status. Long term interventions are necessary for better in growth and the bio-chemical levels.