DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2020.v08i06.006

Pages: 168-170

Objectives of this work is the study the prevalence of unhealthy behaviours in relation to the BMI status of students in a private school in Ranchi. A private coeducational school located in Ranchi was selected for the study. Data for predictors of obesity was collected from 325 students belonging to standard 6th, 7th & 8th. A pretested questionnaire adapted from WHO’s Global School Health Survey Questionnaire was used. Using anthropometric measurements of the subjects, BMI was calculated and subjects were classified as per their nutritional status. Survey of the existing canteens services was done; and knowledge, attitude & practices of teachers regarding health, dietary and lifestyle behaviours were evaluated using a pretested questionnaire. Both undernutrition (28.0%) and overnutrition (20.9%) existed in the adolescents under study. Subjects showed high prevalence of unhealthy behaviours: high consumption of sweetened beverages (19.1%), frequent consumption of outside food (41.5%), low fruit and vegetable intake (49.5%), physical inactivity (46.8%), excessive TV viewing or playing computer games (41.5%). A total of 32.9% of subjects were “at risk” i.e. had >3 unhealthy behaviours out of which 29.2 % were underweight or normal and 47.1% were overweight or obese. Strong health and nutrition related policies and health promotion programs are very important to encourage an adolescent to adopt a healthy behaviour and to prevent under nutrition and obesity. There is an urgent need to sensitize school authorities and teachers as well as parents regarding healthy food practices and physical activity by students.