A STUDY ON THE NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS

One hundred and twenty school girls in the age group of 13-15 years fr om four Government schools of Ludhiana city were selected for the stud y. On the basis of their family income they were divided into three ex perimental groups i.e. income group I (IgI), income group II (IgII) an d income group III (IgIII). The results showed that the intake was low for all the foods. However, the consumption of fruits, milk and milk- products, sugar and jaggery, fats and oils by the subjects of IgII and IgIII was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than IgI. The mean daily in take of energy, protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C was in adequate while the intake of fibre was adequate by the subjects as com pared to ICMR recommendations. There was no significant difference in energy, protein and iron intakes among the subjects of three groups. H owever, the fibre intake by the subjects of IgI was significantly high er (p < 0.05) than the subjects of IgIII, whereas the intake of calciu m, vitamin A and ascorbic acid by the subjects of IgII & IgIII was sig nificantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of IgI. The average body weigh ts and heights of the subjects were normal. The haemoglobin (Hb) level of the subjects ranged from 8.5-12.5 g/dl with a mean value of 10.73 + 0.07 and reported that only 23 percent of the subjects had acceptabl e level.