ABSTRACT

A cross sectional study was conducted involving 193, 15-20 years old, students in Skardu to find out prevalence of malnutrition, to collect some factual statistics about their nutritional status and to detect its relationship with their academic achievements. Basic incentive for this survey was unavailability of any authenticated data pertaining to health status of the people living in this far off underdeveloped area. Anthropometric measurements like weight for age, height for age and weight for height along with BMI were used as parameters for nutritional status while marks obtained from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education or in annual class tests were taken as indicator of academic achievements. According to the results 69% were found malnourished. Out of which 98.5% were undernourished and only 1.5% were over weight. 74% of under nourished were under weight, 9% were stunted and 17% were both under weight and stunted. About 26% students were anemic clinically. Girls were generally more under nourished, stunted and anemic (p >0.05) than the boys. This is just tip of the iceberg, which is made visible. There is very highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.7) between height and weight (p > 0.001) while only a weak positive correlation (r =0.1) is detected statistically between BMI and marks obtained by the students (0.1> p >0.05). It is emphasized that all doctors must appreciate nutritional assessment as a Vital Sign (like pulse, temperature or blood pressure) and should routinely check it for every patient, which is being ignored in clinical practice at present.