Abstract:
Quetelet's index (W/H2) BMI an anthropometric index is an estimate of body composition that correlates an individual's weight and height to lean body mass. The WHO has recommended the international use of reference values of heights and weights of the children (BMI) compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the USA,and has made cut off point for measurements of nutritional impact on children. This study was carried out to calculate the Quetelet's index of children who belong to Vedda population attending Dabana Prathamika Vidyalaya at Mahiyanganaya Sri Lanka and to assess the nutritional status of the children. All student (28) belongs to vedda pedigree Uruvarige,Thalawavarige, Unapanavarige, Moranavarige were included for this study and those who belongs to other pedigree were excluded. The individual selection was based on in verbal pedigree analysis and pedigree was traced back to at least three generation with the help of their parents. Height was measured using a stadiometer measuring up to 2m with the accuracy of 0.1cm.and weight was measured on a portable balance weighing up to 100 Kg with an accuracy of 1kg.The BMI of each subject was estimated. The waterlow classification was used for assessment of nutritional status of each age group male and female. The studied result of mean BMI of children revealed that the age group of 6 to 9 year both male and female groups were undernourished with reference to waterlow (cut off point 13.5) and 10 year male group was undernourished (cut off point 15).The study revealed that the children who belong to Vedda population attending Dabana Prathamika Vidyalaya at Mahiyanganaya were undernourished. The percentage of male children with BMI values less than13.5 is 20% in 1971/73 and 63% in 1993/94 which is lesser than the 66% within this range of BMI in 2010. Male children with BMI values between(13.5 – 14.9) are 60% in1971/73 and 27% in 1993/94 reported in Wikramanayake et al 1994 which is lesser than the 33% within this range of BMI in 2010.The percentage of female children with BMI values less than13.5 is 50% in 1971/73 and 69% in 1993/94 which is significantly lesser than the 84% within this range of BMI in 2010. Female children with BMI values between (13.5 – 14.9) are 50% in1971/73 and 20% in 1993/94 reported in Wikramanayake et al 1994 which is lesser than the 16% within this range of BMI in 2010.
