ABSTRACT

This study includes measurements of height, weight, head circumference, arm circumference, chest circumference and skinfold thickness measurements which includes the biceps skinfold, triceps skinfold, back (subscapular) skinfold, abdominal and breast skinfold measurements. The study also included dietary survey using 24-hour dietary recall. The data was obtained from 120 subjects aged 6-11, selected randomly from the urban and rural areas in Umuahia, North LGA, Abia-State. Based on the data, the body mass index (BMl), triceps skinfold, total skinfold, arm circumference and head! chest ratio were established for the urban and rural subjects as well as for the both sexes. 50% of the female pupils had normal weight for their age, 71.43% of the male pupils had normal weight for their age, both for the 6-8 age group in the rural schools and 50% of the female pupils had normal weight for their age, 50% of the male pupils had normal weight for age, both for the 6-8 age group in the urban schools. For the 9-11 age group in the rural schools, 65.22% of the females had normal weight for age and 64.29% of the males had normal weight for age. In the urban areas, 82.76% of the females had normal weight for age and 90.91% of the males had normal weight for age. The subjects generally had low BMl except for few that had normal BMI and non of the subject was obese. The subject generally had high height for their age and consequently low weight for their height. From the dietary survey it was found that generally, the subjects consumed more carbohydrate foods. The mean protein, carbohydrate and energy intakes for the subjects in the urban schools are 57.55g, 344.95g and 1857.68Kcal respectively. For the subjects in the rural schools, the mean protein, carbohydrate and energy intakes are 54.log, 371 .62g and 1766.49Kcal.