Nutritional Status and Dietary Practices of Special or Mentally Challenged School Going Boys of Pune City

Abstract

Special or mentally challenged is a term that is commonly used to describe someone who learns and develops more slowly than others and synonymous with mental retardation. Irrespective of cause of mental retardation, the problem of diet pattern and its effects remain same for every special individual. A balanced diet rich in calories, protein, vitamins and minerals is required for pregnant women and young children for normal brain development. Lack of adequate diet can have direct and indirect effects on brain development and thereby increase the risk of subnormal development. Diet plays an important part in the development of every individual. Challenged individuals may resist new foods, have definite likes and dislikes and sometimes can't manage eating food as some of them may find it difficult to recognise the food item. The present study aims to assess the nutritional status of mentally retarded school-going children of Pune city, and the objectives are to study the dietary practices, choices and preferences of these children. The sample is from low economic and educational status. The data of 259 boys of age group 8 to 16 years is collected from 13 special schools of Pune city with the help of diet survey and questionnaire, where in detailed case histories and psychological assessments of these mentally challenged children are available. The data shows that 76.79% children are of various grades of under nutrition and 1.39% children are under obese category. As age increases, the level of under nourishment decreases. Evidence of over nourishment is seen after the age of 11 years. Consumption of bakery items is more in these children. Consumption of tea is more than milk intake.