ASSESSMENT OF MALNUTRITION AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDERWEIGHT ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN NAMAKKAL DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Adolescent undernutrition remains a major public health concern in India, particularly among girls from rural and economically disadvantaged communities. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and evaluate the nutritional status of underweight adolescent girls in Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 underweight adolescent girls aged 12-19 years selected from rural and urban areas of Namakkal District. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, haemoglobin estimation, clinical examination, dietary assessment, and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) assessment were carried out using standardized procedures. Nutrient intake was compared with the Indian Council of Medical Research recommended dietary allowances, and a nutrition education intervention was implemented for a subgroup of participants. The findings revealed that 69.6% of the participants were thin and 30.4% were severely thin according to WHO BMI-for-age standards. Anaemia was present in 75.2% of the participants, and pallor was the most common clinical sign (67.2%).