TABLE 2.
Anthropometric characteristics of the participants and comparison with Indian and FAO/WHO reference values1
| Girls |
Boys |
|||||
| Characteristic | Present study | Indian reference value2 | FAO/WHO reference value3 | Present study | Indian reference value2 | FAO/WHO reference value3 |
| Age, y | 14.2 ± 0.82 | 13–15 | 11–14 | 13.9 ± 0.75 | 13–15 | 11–14 |
| Height, cm | 149 ± 4.9 | 156.3 | — | 157 ± 9.3 | 162.1 | — |
| Weight, kg | 43.3 ± 4.15 | 46.6 | 46.1 | 40.1 ± 4.85 | 47.6 | 45 |
| BMI4, kg/m2 | 19.5 ± 1.91 | 19.0 (16.8 ± 2.35) | — | 16.7 ± 0.97* | 18.1 (15.7 ± 2.15) | — |
1
Values are means ± SDs unless otherwise indicated, n = 16. All boys were normal weight (−2 to +1 Z-score) and only 1 girl showed a > +1 Z-score suggestive of overweight. *Different from girls, P < 0.05 (t test).
2
95th percentile values based on national reference data (9).
3
FAO/WHO mean values (26).
4
BMI-for-age calculated on the basis of WHO Z-score scale.
5
Based on national nutrition survey carried out in rural areas of India (27).