Nutritional Status, Body Composition, and Dietary Adequacy among School-Aged Children (6-12 Years) From A Low Socioeconomic Urban Cluster in Maharashtra, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.170620266613Keywords:
Nutritional status, Body Composition, Dietary Adequacy, Growth, School-aged Children, Malnutrition, IndiaAbstract
Background: Growth in school-aged children reflects the balance between fat and lean tissue and is influenced by dietary adequacy. Inadequate diets may result in poor growth or increased adiposity. The study aimed to assess growth patterns, body composition, and dietary adequacy among school-aged children.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 984 children (6-12 years) selected from six primary schools under the Nagar Palika cluster of Khopoli, Raigad District, Maharashtra, India, representing a lower socioeconomic population. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were assessed using the InBody J30 pediatric analyzer. Nutrient intake was assessed using a 24-hour diet recall and analyzed using DietCal software. Data were analyzed using SPSS software v25.
Results: Majority of children showed normal growth pattern; however, both undernutrition and excess adiposity were observed. Approximately 17% (158) of children had elevated body fat levels, with evidence of discordance between BMI and BFP. Energy, fat, and micronutrient intake were below recommended levels, while protein intake was generally adequate.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the dual burden of malnutrition and the presence of hidden adiposity among children. Body composition assessment provides additional insight beyond BMI in identifying adiposity. Improving diet quality through targeted nutrition interventions is essential for promoting healthy growth.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rashmi Kulkarni, Priyanka Pareek, Subhadra Mandalika, Aparna Thorat, Chethana Chandrasekar, Shravya Karkera
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