Physical growth pattern and nutritional status among adolescent Bhumij boys of Khatra Block, Bankura District, West Bengal, India

A cross-sectional study of 238 adolescent Bhumij boys aged 11-16 years of Khatra block, Bankura district of West Bengal, India was undertaken to study their physical growth and nutritional status. The subjects were classified into six age groups: 11-11.9 (n=35), 12-12.9 (n=41), 13-13.9 (n=39), 14-14.9 (n=45), 15-15.9 (n=40), 16-16.9 (n=38). Physical growth status (estimated by height and weight) was compared with national standard. Nutritional status (undernutrition) was determined by the age and sex specific BMI cutoffs (less than fifth percentile values) based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). Results shows that studied Bhumij boys were slightly shorter than the national standard at each age and heavier at late adolescence. The overall rate of undernutrition was 53.36%. The rates of undernutrition varied between 47.37% among 16 year olds to 57.50% at age 15 years. There was a gradual increasing trend of undernutrition from 11 to 15 years. Thereafter, there was a slight declining trend in the rates of undernutrition at age 16 (47.37%) years. In general, this study provided facts that the adolescent Bhumij boys had alarming rates of undernutrition. These rates of undernutrition were; in general, agree with the earlier Indian studies but higher than those found among adolescents in several developing countries.