INTRAHOUSEHOLD ALLOCATION OF ENERGY-INTAKE AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS AND THEIR PARENTS IN RURAL BANGLADESH

Objective: This study assesses intrahousehold allocation of energy in rural Bangladesh and tests the hypothesis that, when daily energy inta ke is adjusted for energy expenditure, no age or gender bias will be a pparent in intrahousehold energy allocation. Design: Data were collect ed at two-month intervals over a one year study. Setting: Four village s in Matlab Thana, rural Bangladesh. Subjects: Two hundred and seven c hildren up to 5 y of age and their 145 mothers and 123 fathers. Interv entions: Data included six measurements of observed 24 h dietary energ y intake and physical activity recorded from waking to sleeping. Total daily energy expenditure was derived using the factorial method. Resu lts: Women's energy intake ranged from 75-88% of the FAO/WHO recommend ed energy intake over the six periods of data collection, significantl y less (P < 0.0001) than the men's (range 89-114%). Although the women had moderate levels of physical activity, frequent pregnancies and lo ng lactation periods increased their energy needs. Among children no l onger breast fed, energy consumption, unadjusted for energy expenditur e, provided 86-108% of the FAO/WHO recommended energy intake by weight . Conclusions: Women consistently received less of their energy requir ements than either their children or their husbands.