Paper short abstract:

Nutritional status was assessed in young girls and it was reported that malnutrition was significantly prevalent in southern part of Punjab, with high incidence of thinness, stunting and wasting according to criteria given by WHO.

Paper long abstract:

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 830 girls ranging in age from 6 to 16 years and residing in southern region of Punjab. Anthropometric measurements were taken and malnutrition was evaluated on the basis of BMI-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-age criteria in all the girls. The nutritional assessment showed wasting (15.3%), stunting (65.3%) and thinness (24.6%) during late childhood. Out of the total sample, there was prevalence of thinness in 61.03% and stunting in 66.76% of the adolescent girls. The results support the need for development of infrastructure, education and health facilities in these areas of Punjab.