HEIGHT AND WEIGHT PATTERNS AS INDICATORS OF GROWTH AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AN AIR FORCE STATION : A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

A cross sectional study of school children between 6-17 years of age was carried out in an Air Force Station to determine their growth patterns as indicated by weight and height with a view to detect gender bias, if any, and compare the findings with those of affluent Indian children and National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS), USA, standards. A total of 763 boys and 605 girls were examined. There was no gender bias in growth. Though the children compared almost favourably, with affluent Indian children, particularly in respect to stature, they were lagging far behind the NCHS standard. Goal for achieving the NCHS standards in the long run has been discussed.KEY WORDS: Adolescents, Anthropometry, Growth, School children, Under-nutrition