A correlational study of BMI with food practice and physical activity among adolescents in Urban and Rural schools of east Sikkim

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization considers that poor nutrition is the single most important threat to the world’s health (WHO, 2000). Low levels of physical activity, and unhealthy food habits are risk factors for under nutrition and over nutrition in children. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess, compare and find the association of BMI with food practice and physical activity among adolescents in urban and rural schools of east Sikkim. Methods: A total of 276 adolescents from urban and rural school students comprise of the study population. 138 children were from urban and rural schools of East Sikkim. A simple random sampling technique was used. Data entry and statistical analysis was performed with the help of SPSS version 24.0. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Result: Findings show that most of the adolescents both in urban (79%) and rural (86.2%) were in normal weight. Similarly, findings also revealed that all the adolescents in urban schools 138 (100%) and rural schools 138 (100%) had acceptable food practices and majority were found moderately active in both the rural and urban schools. There was an association found in BMI and physical activity with their selected demographic variables. The study findings showed that there was statistically significance difference between the BMI, food practice and physical activity between the urban and rural school adolescents. Conclusion: Furthermore, programs on improved dietary habits and programs to promote healthy body image could be incorporated to promote healthy body image to reduce their vulnerability towards distorted body image in later years