SURVEY OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN OF GOTTIGERE GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL
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On 4 March 2010, the Nature Club of Department of Biotech organized an extension activity to study the nutritional status of schoolchildren of Gottigere Government High School.
The survey involved 160 students of VIII Standard. These students were given a questionnaire to fill up. The questionnaire consisted of questions designed to evaluate their nutritional status. The filled questionnaires were collected back from the students and analysed.
Based on the responses, it was seen that 85 % of students come from families with an annual income below Rs. 30,000/-. & 0% of students consume carbohydrate-rich food like rice before coming to school. 20% eat balanced food like idlis and only 4 % drink milk every morning. 72 % of the students are non-vegetarians, with 43% of these consuming chicken once a week. 16% eat egg once a week and 10% consume fish once a week. 27 % are vegetarians. The school has a mid-day meal scheme and 97 % of children eat lunch under this scheme. 48% of students perform atleast 2 hours of physical activity per week. They do not work after school hours.
A group of students of M.Sc. Biochemistry had prepared a presentation on Nutrition dealing with the various food groups and their importance in human health, the sources of nutrition, and the disorders caused by deficiency of these nutrients.
The high school students were informed about their nutritional status and were also given an informative talk on the significance of a nutritious diet.
This was followed by the distribution of healthy food items like oranges, bananas, buttermilk and glucose biscuits to the students. The expenditure on this was met by donations collected from the staff and students of the Dept of Biosciences. A group of Srilankan and Mauritius students of B.Sc. Biotechnology also donated stationery items to all the school students.
The staff and students of Gottigere Government High School appreciated the efforts taken by T. John College students and staff to organize this activity. The faculty and students of T. John College Dept of Biosciences were very enthusiastic about conducting this activity.