Author(s): Preeti N Dharmade and Dr. Manisha P Kale

Abstract:
Anthropometry is important for adolescent girls. During puberty wrong food habits accelerate in adolescent girls and affect their nutritional status, which have impact on their anthropometric measurements. Therefore there was the need to impart nutrition education to adolescent girls. Nutrition education has been recognised as a nutritional knowledge improver and good food habit builder. The purpose of the study was to improve their nutritional status through nutrition education and observe the change in their anthropometric measurements. The results show that more than 50 per cent respondents had positive change in their height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage and MUAC after exposure to nutrition education. The ‘t’ value for height, weight, BMI and MUAC were highly significant. Change in height of respondents was correlated with change in BMI. Change in weight was correlated with change in BMI and body fat percentage. Change in BMI was correlated with change in height, weight and body fat percentage. Change in body fat percentage was correlated with change in weight, BMI and MUAC. Change in MUAC was correlated with change in body fat percentage. The findings support the importance of nutrition education to adolescent girls to improve the anthropometric measurements towards the normal range.