Research Article
Comparative Analysis and Relationship between Nutritional Status and Physical Efficiency among the Rural and Urban Children
Arora D1, Das A2 and Mahata H3*
1Department of Physiology, Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhilai, India
2Department of Physiology, Vidyasagar College for Women, Kolkata, India
3Department of Physiology, Midnapore College (Autonomous), Midnapore, West Bengal, India
2Department of Physiology, Vidyasagar College for Women, Kolkata, India
3Department of Physiology, Midnapore College (Autonomous), Midnapore, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding author:Hiranmoy Mahata, Department of Physiology, Midnapore College (Autonomous), Midnapore, West Bengal, India. Email Id: hiranmoymahata27@gmail.com
Article Information:Submission: 12/12/2024; Accepted: 02/01/2025; Published: 04/01/2025
Copyright: ©2025 Arora D, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Introduction:In developing countries like India, the children, irrespective of their community or societal background, do not have a proper or normal growth rate. The growth of a child mainly depends upon the nutritional status. Physical efficiency can easily be determined by the individual capacity for maximal energy output, muscular strength, coordination and movement.
Aim:The primary goal of this research was to assess whether any association between nutritional status and physical efficiency of rural and urban children exists. One Hundred twenty children were chosen at random from Medinipur districts (Purba and Paschim) of West Bengal for this study.
Methodology:All the children (6-9 yrs) were measured for various physical fitness components and nutritional status which was evaluated using different nutritional indices and 24-Hrs recall method. The motor function of the children was measured with the help of reaction time measurement (stick drop test). Modified push-up test was used to evaluate the endurance of the children. Sit and reach test was then used to assess the flexibility among the children.
Results:The results revealed that the rural children have significantly higher endurance (p<0.001) in push up and flexibility (p<0.001), than the urban children. But the urban children showed a significantly (p<0.05) better reaction time than the rural children. The correlation between protein intake and reaction time (p<0.05) and push-up test was significant in case of rural children. Other nutritional parameters are not significantly correlated with physical fitness.
Conclusion:The study found that children in rural areas were more physically fit than in urban areas. These findings demonstrate the impact of living environment has the ability to prop-up an active lifestyle that improves physical fitness. Rural children were more engaged in both scheduled and unstructured (tree climbing, cycling, swimming and helping in household chores and agricultural activities) physical activities which may be overall emphasizing their physical fitness.
Aim:The primary goal of this research was to assess whether any association between nutritional status and physical efficiency of rural and urban children exists. One Hundred twenty children were chosen at random from Medinipur districts (Purba and Paschim) of West Bengal for this study.
Methodology:All the children (6-9 yrs) were measured for various physical fitness components and nutritional status which was evaluated using different nutritional indices and 24-Hrs recall method. The motor function of the children was measured with the help of reaction time measurement (stick drop test). Modified push-up test was used to evaluate the endurance of the children. Sit and reach test was then used to assess the flexibility among the children.
Results:The results revealed that the rural children have significantly higher endurance (p<0.001) in push up and flexibility (p<0.001), than the urban children. But the urban children showed a significantly (p<0.05) better reaction time than the rural children. The correlation between protein intake and reaction time (p<0.05) and push-up test was significant in case of rural children. Other nutritional parameters are not significantly correlated with physical fitness.
Conclusion:The study found that children in rural areas were more physically fit than in urban areas. These findings demonstrate the impact of living environment has the ability to prop-up an active lifestyle that improves physical fitness. Rural children were more engaged in both scheduled and unstructured (tree climbing, cycling, swimming and helping in household chores and agricultural activities) physical activities which may be overall emphasizing their physical fitness.
Keywords:Children; Rural-Urban; Nutrition; Physical Activity; BMI; Endurance; Flexibility; Reaction Time; Sit and Reach Test; Push-Up Test