Abstract

*Sanam Anwar, Ruqaiya Abdul Samad, Juhaina Ahmed Said Al-Jahwari, Noor Al-Zubaidi, Mazoun Nasser Rashid Al-Kharousi and Asma Hamed Ahmed Al-Adawi

ABSTRACT

Background: Many countries are experiencing what has been termed the “double burden of malnutrition” where problems of nutritional deficiencies coexist with problems of nutritional excess. Poor nutrition during adolescence implies a poor quality of life and additional health and morbidity risks for the adolescents themselves. Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to assess the nutritional status of school going adolescent girls. Materials and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in Omani adolescent girls. Data collection tool used was a pretested, structured questionnaire to assess the sociodemographic variables. Weight and height was measured and body mass index was calculated to classify the girls according to their nutritional status using WHO cut offs for BMI. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Results: Mean BMI of girls was 23 ± 5.4 kg/m2. Nineteen percent girls were undernourished, 52.6% had normal weight and 28.4% were overweight. More girls in the younger age group were overweight while more girls in the older age group were underweight. Girls with educated mothers had higher BMI than those whose mothers were illiterate. Similarly girls studying in grade 9 also had higher BMI compared to girls studying in grade 10. Conclusion: One third of the girls were overweight and one fifth was undernourished. Mother’s education did not have significant effect on nutritional status of girls.