DETERMINANTS OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS OF SDAU IN GUJARAT

K.B. ASHWAR¹, J.J. DHADUK²*, D. PRAGAYA³, S.R. KAPADIYA⁴, B.K. ASHWAR^5
1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, ASPEE College of Home Science and Nutrition, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India
²Department of Food Science and Nutrition, ASPEE College of Home Science and Nutrition, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India
³Department of Human Development and Family Studies, ASPEE College of Home Science and Nutrition, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India
⁴Department of Food Science and Nutrition, ASPEE College of Home Science and Nutrition, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India
⁵Polytechnic in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India
* Corresponding Author : jjdhaduk64@gmail.com

Received : 30-05-2016     Accepted : 16-06-2016     Published : 03-10-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 43       Pages : 1870 - 1873
Int J Agr Sci 8.43 (2016):1870-1873

Keywords : Adolescent, Nutritional status, 24-hour dietary recall, Body Mass Index (BMI), Average daily intake.
Academic Editor : Dr B. P. Bhaskar, Rashid Tavga Sulaiman, Asha, Sovan Debnath
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : We would like to express our authentic gratefulness to all respondents who had provided valuable information and kind cooperation in our research work. Similarly, we extend our sincere gratitude to university authority, head of all the polytechnic institutes and their staff members under Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat, India for their support
Author Contribution : None declared

Good quality nutrition during adolescence include nutrient required for physical and cognitive growth and development. The present investigation was aimed to study the determinants of nutritional status among polytechnic students of Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU) located at North Gujarat. The sample consists of 387 adolescents from four polytechnic colleges. The information was gathered for socio-economic status, anthropometric measures and dietary intake of respondents. Ex-post facto research design was used for statistical analysis. The nutrient intake was compared with recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Results indicate that major occupation (60.98%) of the respondent’s family heads was agriculture and among those the majority (84.24%) was landholders. Out of them about 35% were low and medium milk producer. Medium level of knowledge (65.83%) regarding nutritional needs as well as mass media (74.44%) contact was found among respondents. Nearly forty three percent (42.89%) were having normal nutritional level whereas under nutrition was noticed in forty six (46.00%) percent of respondents. Adolescent's food intake was lesser than the RDA. The consumption of GLVs, millets, fruits, egg and non-vegetarian food was also poor. Findings suggest that the extent of under nutrition was high among adolescents and age, lack of nutritious diet and health information were main predicting factors of under nutrition.