Gattupalli Nagamani

Nutritional Status and Physical Work Capacity: Nutritional Status Profiles, Physical Activity and Endurance of Rural Girl Children Gattupalli Nagamani

The main objective is to assess the nutritional status profiles, physical activity and endurance of rural girl children in relation to food intakes. The status profiles also compared with urban elite and urban slum groups of (10 to 18 years) from preadolescence to adolescence and a group of young women (19 to 21 years) who acted as age and caste matched controls. The findings as related to different facets of nutritional status of girls, adolescent and young women provide scope to plan for effective nutritional intervention programmes geared to the needs of poor communities. Such relevant programmes may go a long way in improving the quality of life of the most significant but yet neglected section of the population i.e., the girl children, ?The mothers-to-be?. The findings of the present study indicate that both rural and urban poor have poor nutritional status, high incidence of calorie deficiency, protein and other micro nutrient deficiencies, anaemia due to lower intakes of iron and protein rich foods, more physical activity and poor socio-economic status.