A Comparative Study on Health Status Between Lacto Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Adolescent Girls

Abstract

The objective of this study was to observed and find out the anthropometric alteration and different health related disease and symptoms between lacto-vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent girls due to intake of lacto-vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet. In this study a survey was conducted to compare health status between two dietary groups (lacto and non-vegetarian) in adolescent girls. The survey was carried out at Bhagwanpur-II and Contai -II & III block area, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data of 30 adolescent girls, lacto vegetarian (n=15) and non-vegetarian (n=15). Different anthropometric measurements like height, weight, Blood Pressure (BP), Pulse Pressure (PP), Pulse Rate (PR), waist and hip circumferences, body fat (from biceps, triceps by measuring skin fold thickness) were used to determine Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), BP, PP, PR and Body Fat Percentage (BFP). It was found that no significant (p>0.05) differences in BMI, WHR, pulse pressure, pulse rate, biceps, triceps, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure between lacto-vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent girls. The analysis of the study revealed, the prevalence of different health related disease and symptoms like constipation, anaemia, menstruation problems, fatigue, acidity, headache, aggressiveness, insomnia in lacto-vegetarian was 7%, 53%, 13%, 20%, 27%, 33%, 7%, 13% respectively and in non-vegetarian was 33%, 13%, 47%, 7%, 20%, 47%, 27%, 40% respectively. Lacto-vegetarian adolescent girls should be consumed good quality protein enriched food like different types of seeds and nuts, milk, soya milk, tofu etc. in high quantity and non-vegetarian girls should avoid fast food, junk food, oily food and more consumed fibre rich foods like fruits, vegetables and green leafy vegetables.