Abstract
Background: Healthy women give rise to healthy nation. Nutritional status is an important predicator of one’s health. On one hand, young women are more prone to anemia and underweight. On the other hand, overweight is also equally prevalent. This is high time to assess the nutritional status of young women in order to prevent non-communicable and deficiency-based diseases.
Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of the young women with respect to hemoglobin level and BMI.
Materials and Methods: A total of 500 young people in the age group of 19-22 years were selected by using purposive random sampling. General profile and eating patterns were obtained from the participants using an interview schedule. Anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin levels of them were assessed. Thus obtained information was subjected to statistical analysis.
Results: In our study, only 39% of the participants had normal BMI. About 24% reported under nutrition, and 24.4% reported to fall under the category of overweight and obese category. The prevalence of anemia was reported among 77.8%.
Conclusion: Nutrition Education programs such as workshops, camps, and nutrition screening should be periodically conducted to combat anemia, under nutrition, and over nutrition. Inclusion of nutrient-dense foods from childhood should be encouraged to lead a healthy life.
Keyword: BMI, anemia, hemoglobin, underweight, overweight.
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Corresponding Author
Dr N. Prabhavathy Devi
Assistant Professor, Department of Home Science
Queen Mary’s College, Chennai, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i7.27
