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Nutritional status of affluent Indian school children: what and how much do we know?

G Srihari1, A Eilander, S Muthayya

  • 1Hindustan Lever Limited (Research Center), Bangalore, India. bsgowri@hotmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|April 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Indian school children from middle and high socio-economic status (MHSES) face significant nutritional challenges, including high anemia rates and increasing overweight/obesity. Micronutrient deficiencies are also indicated, requiring further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Nutritional status is crucial for child development and long-term health.
  • Middle and high socio-economic status (MHSES) Indian school children (6-18 years) represent a key demographic for nutritional assessment.
  • Existing literature provides a fragmented view of their nutritional landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize available literature on the nutritional status of MHSES Indian school children.
  • To identify key nutritional concerns, including deficiencies and excesses.
  • To highlight gaps in current knowledge and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search using Medline database.
  • Inclusion of full-length journal articles and unpublished research reports.
  • Systematic review of data pertaining to nutritional status indicators.

Main Results:

  • Anemia prevalence varied widely (19-88%) across Indian cities.
  • Multiple micronutrient deficiencies (folate, vitamins A, B12, C, etc.) were identified through biochemical and clinical data.
  • Overweight (8.5-29.0%) and obesity (1.5-7.4%) were prevalent, with diets rich in cereals/pulses and low in fruits/vegetables.

Conclusions:

  • MHSES Indian school children exhibit concerning rates of anemia, overweight, and obesity.
  • Evidence suggests widespread micronutrient deficiencies, though robust biochemical data is limited.
  • Further well-designed studies are needed to accurately estimate micronutrient deficiencies and understand anemia etiology in this population.
Abstract

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