Influence of the westernised culture and dietary habits on the physical and physiological status of the school children of Tirunelveli

Abstract

Studies on behavioural habit open an avenue for research in different fields. It gives a lot of information regarding the living status of the children and also the various types of hazards that affect the school going children. The present study focused on the school going children of Tirunelveli opens a lot of unknown fact to the society. The environmental condition that is prevailed in the school environment is entirely different and a unique one for its own. The study observed a lot of physical, physiological, biochemical disorders among the school children. newlineHealthy society is a wealthy society and children are the important components of the society. The incidence of overweight and obesity among children of Tirunelveli city is (14%) higher than the national average in 2003. The incidence of overweight and obesity are very high among males (14.2%) who are within the age group of 13-17 years. In female the obeic percentage observed was 12.8%. The obeic persons identified in the present study hails from economically sound families, which is a nuclear one in which both the parents are earning members. Both the parents are literate, mostly professionals or business magnets of the town. Since these obeic students hail from rich family they enjoy all sorts of sophistication in home as well as outside and this leads to immobility, resulted in obesity. They consume energy rich, fat rich diet that further aggravates the status of obesity. newlineAnother major cause of obesity is decreased physical activity. Most of the overweight and obese children have sedentary behavior with less physical activity. There is lack of physical activities both in school and within the home environment. Technological advancement has caused this factor together with the security risk that the children are exposed to whenever they are away from home. Walking activity is limited or totally nil and most of the affluent students use vehicle for their mobility.