Nutritional status of selected teenagers in Kentucky

A nutrition survey was conducted in a six-county area of Kentucky which included 118 teenagers of both races and sexes, with a mean age of 15.5 years. Data collected included one 24-hr dietary recall, meal practices, smoking, and physical activity. Fasting blood and urine were analyzed. White boys had higher intakes in overall nutrients and had more regular meal taking habits than others. Intakes of calcium, iron, and vitamin A were grossly deficient among girls of both races, and vitamin A was most deficient in diets of boys, but the serum vitamin A and carotene values did not confirm a dietary deficiency of vitamin A. Black teenagers of both sexes had less acceptable mean hemoglobin and hematocrit values. High incidences of low hemoglobin values below acceptable range were observed in all groups studied. A high incidence of overweight among girls of both races, of high blood pressure in black boys, and of elevated serum cholesterol and beta-lipoprotein levels in blacks of both sexes were observed. Intake of energy was correlated with work metabolic rate/basal metabolic rate ratio for both sexes. Blacks were less physically active than whites. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and beta-lipoproteins were positively correlated (P less than 0.01) to body weight of girls. Serum cholesterol and beta-lipoproteins were negatively correlated (P less than 0.05) to the degree of physical activity of boys.