Impact of Raising Kitchen Garden and Nutrition Education on Iron and Vitamin A Nutriture of Adolescents

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Authors

  • Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore–641043 ,IN
  • Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore–641043 ,IN

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood. It is characterized by rapid physical, biological and hormonal changes resulting in psycho- social, behavioral and sexual maturation. During this period, upto 45 per cent of skeletal growth takes place, 20 per cent of adult height is achieved, 50 per cent of adult weight is gained, upto 37 per cent of total bone mass may be accumulated and organs and red blood cell mass increase in size. A base line survey on five east and north - eastern states of India found that, on an average 50 per cent of women, 50-60 per cent of adolescent girls and 60-70 per cent of children are anaemic. The prevalence of nutritional blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is 0.04 per cent and Bitot's spot has been about 0.7 per cent and also anaemia was prevalent among males in the age group of 12 - 19 years. Increasing nutrients as well as responsibilities and problems, changing lifestyle, food habits, figure consciousness, peer pressure and behavioral changes affect food intake among adolescents. Rapid growth rate coupled with inappropriate nutrient intake increases the risk of micronutrient deficiencies among this population. In India, iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders are of greatest public health significance. Apart from these, other deficiencies in relatively lesser magnitude are zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12 and other B-complex vitamins and fluoride deficient dental caries.