A Study of Hypertension and Obesity Among the Adult Population in a Rural Area Near NCT Delhi.

Background: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India is substantial and is estimated to increase, in rural areas too. Objectives: To study hypertension and obesity among the adult population in a rural area near Delhi. Materials/methods: A complete enumeration of the total population was done in Mandola village of Uttar Pradesh by conducting a house to house survey. After collecting information based data, the height, weight and blood pressure of all available family members were recorded as per standard procedures. Results: Data was collected from a total of 1124 persons. While there were 15.5% current smokers, 4.4% were consumers of alcohol. The prevalence of current smoking was 35.4% among the males and 3.3% among the females. It was observed that 20.2% of the males and 27.2% females were obese. Among the females, obesity was more likely among the housewives (p<0.001) and those of older age (p<0.001). The proportion of hypertensives was 16.0% in males and 13.0% in females. Among the males, hypertension was more common among the smokers than non-smokers (18.5% vs. 14.5%) and among current alcohol users than non-users (22.4% vs. 15.1%). We found several subjects, of both genders, who had both hypertension as well as obesity. Conclusion: The present study has shown that the burden of NCDs such as hypertension and obesity is quite substantial in a rural population.

Impact of NGO run mid day meal program on nutrition status and growth of primary school children.

Objective. To study the impact of wholesome mid day meal (MDM) program run by an NGO on the growth of the primary school students in rural area of Mathura district. Methods. This intervention study involved children enrolled in Government run rural primary schools in Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh from March 06 through August 07. A wholesome, nutritionally balanced MDM provided by an NGO for the students in the 6 primary schools was selected as intervention group. Control group consisted of children in 8 schools which received locally prepared MDM by village panchayats. Height, weight, change in height/month, change in weight/month, prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and prevalence of signs of vitamin deficiencies, were measured. Results. Food was provided for 221 days in one year. Within group and between groups repetitive measures were compared using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Within both intervention and control groups height and weight had significantly increased (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no change in prevalence of malnutrition within either of the groups. Reduction in vitamin A deficiency signs was 38% more in intervention group (p < 0.001). Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency reduced by 50% more in intervention group. No such differences between groups were observed for vitamin B complex and vitamin C. Conclusions. MDM provided by the NGO has no better impact on growth of the primary school children, however, it reduced prevalence of vitamin deficiency significantly in comparison to the MDM run by Village Panchayats.