Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Nexus of food security, energy balance and malnutrition in women of reproductive age group: Findings from a community based study from North India

8^th International Conference on Food Safety, Quality & Policy

November 27-28, 2017 Dubai, UAE

Zoobi Khanam, Hari Shankar and C P Mishra

Banaras Hindu University, India

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Statement of the problem & Aim: Raising nutritional status of women has been main concern of policy makers. For upholding it to the desired level energy intake (EI) and expenditure must be in equilibrium. Various studies have been conducted on food security, energy balance (EB) and malnutrition. However, a comprehensive study examining nexus of these conditions has not been undertaken so far. Present study is aimed to explore this aspect for achieving optimum nutritional status of women. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: In this cross-sectional study, household food security was assessed by interviewing rural reproductive age women (15-49 years) with the help of standard tool. To calculate EB, dietary assessment of study subjects was done by using 24-hour dietary recall oral questionnaire method. Their activity pattern was recorded by 24-hour recall method as well. This served as the basis for estimation of energy expenditure using activity based energy cost. The standardized anthropometric techniques were applied for assessment of malnutrition. In order to find out the relationship among food security, energy balance and malnutrition, cross tables were generated and statistical tests were applied for inferential purposes. Findings: It was observed that out of 182 subjects having food security at high and marginal level 42.9% and 34.6% subjects had nutritional status as normal (BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m2) and overweight and obese (BMI â?¥23 kg/m2); corresponding values for subject with very low food security were 60.4% and 21.1% (p<0.05). As much as 61.6% and 39.2% with NEB and PEB, respectively; were from households with very low food security (p<0.001). There existed no significant association between energy balance and nutritional status of the study subjects (p>0.05). This could be due to cross sectional design which lacked in establishing temporal relationship between EB and nutritional status. Conclusion & Significance: Findings of the study have policy and program implications for addressing the issue of malnutrition. It can make a significant contribution for emerging threat of overweight and obesity in this age group as well.
Recent Publications:
1. Khanam Z, Shankar H and Mishra C P (2017). Household Food Security with special reference to individual food security of rural women. International Journal of Scientific Research; 6(4): 61-63.
2. Khanam Z, Shankar H and Mishra C P (2016) Macro-nutrient intake of reproductive age group women: findings of a community based study from rural Varanasi. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health; 3(2): 566-575.

Biography :

Zoobi Khanam has her expertise in food and nutrition and has a passion to work for food security and improving its level in the disadvantaged community. She has gained this ability after many years of experience in the area of food security. She has worked as a Lecturer of Food and Nutrition in SSPG College, Ram Manohar Lohiya University, Fiazabad, UP, India. Presently, she is working as Post-Doctoral fellow in Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, India. She has been awarded with the 2nd best scientific paper in International Conference on Food and Nutrition Technology for Public Health Care (ICFNP-2012), India. She has many National and International scientific publications.