Table 4. Prevalence of undernutrition in adolescents (15–19 years) in NFHS– 3 and 4 using adult cut offs vs. that based on 2007 WHO Growth Reference.
| NFHS | Based on WHO cutoffs for adults # | Based on WHO 2007 Growth Reference for adolescents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinness | Severe thinness^ | Thinness% (CI) | Severe thinness^ % (CI) | Stunting %(CI) | Severe stunting^% (CI) | |
| NFHS-3 (2005–6) | ||||||
| Both Sexes(35,570) | NA* | NA* | 14.3(13.9, 14.7) | 2.9(2.8, 3.1) | 29.1(28.6, 29.6) | 5.3(5, 5.5) |
| Boys(12,635) | 58.1 | 29.3 | 22.3(21.6, 23) | 5.8(5.4, 6.2) | 25.2(24.4, 26) | 5.2(4.8, 5.6) |
| Girls(22,935) | 46.8 | 20.9 | 9.9(9.5, 10.3) | 1.4(1.2, 1.5) | 31.2(30.6, 31.8) | 5.3(5, 5.6) |
| NFHS-4 (20015–16) | ||||||
| Both Sexes(144,320) | NA* | NA* | 10(9.8, 10.1) | 1.7(1.6, 1.8) | 34.1 (33.9, 34.4) | 6.5(6.4, 6.6) |
| Boys(18,970) | 44.8 | 23.0 | 16.5(16, 17) | 3.6(3.3, 3.8) | 32.2(31.6, 32.9) | 8.6 (8.2, 9) |
| Girls(125,350) | 41.9 | 23.2 | 9(8.8, 9.2) | 1.4(1.4, 1.5) | 34.4(34.2, 34.7) | 6.2(6.1, 6.3) |
NFHS = National Family Health Survey; BMI = Body Mass Index.
*Combined figures of both sexes are not officially available in any NFHS report for this age group
#indicators for adults are based on the recommendations by the 1995 WHO Expert Committee (14)
^ Percent severe thinness, percent severe stunting, included in the overall figures of thinness and stunting
According to WHO 2007 growth reference, thinness and severe thinness is BMI-for-age z-scores <-2SD and <-3SD respectively
According to WHO 2007 growth reference stunting and severe stunting is Height-for-age z-scores < -2SD and -3SD.