Physiological health parameters and nutritional status among college-going girls in Murshidabad District of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Physiological health indicators such as height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) reflect the overall development of a population and are closely linked to nutritional intake patterns. Measurements of blood pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) help to assess disease-related health status within the studied group. There is no such information about the anthropometric data along with respiratory fitness among the college girls of Murshidabad district in West Bengal. Methods: One hundred eleven college girls aged 19-22 years were selected randomly to observe their height, weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate, body temperature, respiration rate, PEFR, and handgrip strength. All the girls of the mentioned age group were clinically examined for anemia and vitamin A deficiency, i.e., the finding of beta spot, goiter, and other associated iodine deficiency disorders. The dietary practice among the students was also investigated. Results: Overall results showed that the mean BMI of these girls is 21.23 ± 3.94 kg/sq m, with a mean PEFR value of 315.77 ± 61.06 l/min. As expected, mean hand grip strength was found to be less in the non-dominant hands (16.22 ± 4.00 kg) than in the dominant hand (18.40 ± 4.76 kg). The mean height and weight are slightly elevated in the studied population as compared with the standard ICMR data. Their regular diet should include more nutritional food, as anemia, and Grade 1 Goiter were found in 6.3% and 3.6% of students, respectively. Conclusion: About 50% of the students have a healthy weight, while around 33% are underweight, likely due to nutritional deficiencies. PEFR results show poor respiratory fitness, which could improve with regular exercise. Further investigation is needed to determine the health patterns and nutritional status of female students.