ABSTRACT
To compare the bone mineral density [BMD] and associated dietary and physical activity factors in low and high socio economic status [SES] groups of children. This is a cross sectional, prospective, descriptive study. This study was conducted at two different socio-economic level schools. The low socio-economic school was Major Sultan Shaheed Primary School in North Nazimabad, Karachi, while the high socioeconomic school was Horizon School in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi. This study was conducted in September 2007. The perfomas were filled and the tests were done during one week. One hundred children of age 10-12 years of both sexes were selected randomly from two schools of Karachi representing the two different socioeconomic classes. Fifty children each were recruited from either school. Each group included 25 from either sex. A questionnaire was designed to include basic demographic features, weight, height, BMI, dietary habits and physical activities. BMD was measured at the heel using a portable quantitative ultrasound [QUS] densitometry machine. The results were expressed as T-score. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 11.5. For data comparison and calculation of significance ANNOVA and ETA were used. The mean T-scores in high SES group were significantly lower at-2.82 than the low SES group which was-2.36 [p-value < 0.05]. This is despite the fact that the high SES group had a significantly higher BMI and better overall dietary calcium and other minerals consumption. However, the high SES group children also consumed significantly higher quantities of carbonated soft drinks and chocolates. The high intensity activities were comparable in both groups [p-value 0.83]. However, the moderate intensity activities were observed 2.5 folds more frequently in low SES than in high SES group. Lower BMD values were noted in high SES group of children despite having higher BMI and better overall mineral consumption. This could be because of concomitantly higher consumption of carbonated soft drinks and other junk food that may hinder calcium and minerals absorptions and sedentary lifestyle observed in high SES group children