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The increasing incidence of obesity in adults and children in the world has drawn the attention of all. India too reports that prevalence of childhood obesity has risen over the past decade. In the recent years, considerable changes in dietary patterns have caught the attention of all along with the concern for the rising incidence of obesity. The consumption of high calorie foods, fats, simple sugar and salt has increased in the diets of adults and children. Mainly due to the wide range of processed and convenience foods available today. In this context, the present study was undertaken to estimate body mass index (BMI) and body fat, and to examine the consumption of snacks of children (N=1500). A food frequency questionnaire was used to record the consumption of snacks with portion sizes per week. Snacks were divided into dry snacks (wafers, chips, sev etc) and freshly prepared ones (wada pav, Frankie etc). A combined snack intake was calculated. Consumption of fried snacks in the school cafeteria (canteen) was also studied. Body Mass Index of the children was calculated. Skin fold measurements were recorded and body fat was assessed. Data were statistically analysed to assess the relation of snack intake with BMI and body fat. A significant positive correlation was observed between BMI and a combined snack intake (r=0.237, p=0.000) and also between consumption of snacks and body fat (r=0.175, p=0.000). The results indicated that consumption of snacks may influence BMI and body fat [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing urbanization, migration from rural areas, disintegration of traditional family and community structure have ushered in changes in socioeconomic scenario which have given rise to new vulnerable group of children in cities residing on streets called 'street children'. The street children phenomenon is an increasing problem in most cosmopolitan cities of the developing countries. The government and NGOs have initiated various food programs for street children. It is therefore important to know their growth status. The present study was undertaken to assay growth status of street children using anthropometric measurements like height, weight and BMI. Second objective of the study was to ascertain the adequacy of the meals provided to street children at these institutes. Study design was exploratory and descriptive. Three hundred and fourteen street children (aged 9 to 18 years) including beneficiaries of school feeding programme (184- Type I), NGO feeding programme (68- type II) and shelter feeding programme (62 -type III ) were selected using purposive sampling from three institutes in Mumbai. Data on the number of consumed meals provided by institutes, meal composition, height, weight and BMI for age was recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS (16). Measures of centre and measures of variability were computed. One sample t test was used for analysis as an advanced statistical procedure. The results indicated that the street children benefitted from the free food services available at the institutes. All children were given same proportion of food however all basic five food groups were not included in any of the meals. The anthropometric indicators for mean height, weight and BMI for age were below 95th centile. Five percent of boys and 8 % of girls were stunted, 7 % of boys and 9% of girls were under weight, 6 % boys and girls were thin for their age. Approximately one third of subjects suffered from mild under nutrition with regards to height, weight and BMI for age despite of consuming meals and being a beneficiary of food programme. One sample t test indicated significant differences with regards to height, weight and BMI for age when compared with reference standards for both genders(P < 0.01). Currently no dieticians are attached with these institutes hence there is an utmost need for dietician in these institutes, so that quality food is provided in terms of nutrition and thereby improve the growth status of street children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]