Nutritional status of students at Lao Cai City No. 1 High School, Lao Cai province

Abstract

An adolescence period (15 - 17 years old) is an important stage of body development. Study on the nutritional status of adolescents plays an important role in health care. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1095 students aged 15 to 18 years old at Lao Cai No. 1 High School in 2019. Results showed that median age was 16.3; weight was 53 kg; height was 163 cm; waist circumference was 68 cm; hip circumference was 80 cm; BMI was 20.0 kg\m2; Z-score height for age was -0.6; Z-score BMI for age was -0.3. Anthropometric indicators such as weight, height, and BMI in boys were higher in girls as compared to boys in all grades. The rates of malnutrition, overweight and obesity were 5.4%, 9.1%, and 1.6%, respectively. The malnutrition, overweight and obesity in boys (6.8%, 3.4%, 2.3%, respectively) were significantly higher in girls (4.1%, 5.8%, 1.1%, respectively) as compared to boys (P < 0.05). These parameters of students of grade 10 (2.5%, 16.4% and 2.5%), 11th grade (6.4%, 7.4% and 2.0%) and 12th grade (6.9%, 3.7% and 0.3%) were different (P < 0.001). The results of the current study showed that the rate of stunted students was 3.9%, however, there were no significant differences in gender and grade level (P > 0.05). These results have oriented students, families, and schools to improve the poor nutritional status, and provide the best conditions for the development of adolescents.