Nutritional profile and endurance capacity of adolescent girls

Abstract

The present study 'Nutritional profile and endurance capacity of adolescent girls' was conducted among 150 adolescent girls of 13-15 years of age. Information regarding the socio-economic conditions of the families indicated that majority of the families were Hindus. Nuclear families with satisfactory housing conditions and living facilities were the striking features observed. Majority of the family heads were labourers and earned Rs.l 000 to 4000 per month. Food consumption survey revealed that rice was the staple food and all of them were habitual non-vegetarians. The prevalence of current malnutrition of various grades was found to be more among adolescent girls indicated by their weight for age. The most common nutritional deficiency disease observed among adolescent girls was anaemia. More than 50 per cent of adolescent girls had lower levels of haemoglobin. Consumption of cereals, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, roots and tubers, fruits, milk and milk products, fats and oils, meat, fish and egg and sugar and jaggery were lower than the RDA. In case of nutrient intake only energy level was found to be adequate. None of the adolescent girls had good or excellent endurance capacity. Body weight is an important factor contributing to physical work capacity and high average endurance capacity was observed among majority of girls with normal weight for age. Other contributing factors observed for low endurance capacity was their low haemoglobin levels and low nutrient intakes. In spite of their low nutritional status and nutrient intake, their habitual physical activities have a positive effect on their endurance capacity.