Comparison of Nutritional Status of School Children with and Without Mid Day Meal Programme

Abstract

This cross sectional study was carried out to compare nutritional status amongst children of 14- 16 years age of three different sets of schools. Study was conducted at Private High School Campus (PHSC) without mid day meal programme, Govt. High School Hebbal (GHSH) with ISCKON mid day meal programme and Govt. High School Bashettahalli (GHSB) Doddaballapur, with Govt. mid day meal. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured. When height and weight of the study subjects compared with 50^th percentile values of IAP standards, majority of the subjects with no midday meal programme were found to have better height (18.5%) compared to with MDM subjects. Whereas, majority of the subjects in PHSC (without MDM) and GHSH (with ISCKON MDM) were found to have on par results for weight at 18.75 and 19.18 per cent respectively. Comparison of BMI with 50^th percentile values of WHO standards projected that majority of the PHSC (no MDM) subjects (56.2%) had normal BMI as compared to with MDM subjects as compared to other two school