Energy intake and anthropometry: A case study of families in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Energy intake and nutritional status of 44 members of 5 families in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State were evaluated for 6 consecutive days. The socioeconomic activities and health condition of the participants was determined by the administration of questionnaire interviews. Food samples were analyzed by the standard AOAC methods to determine their energy and proximate composition while nutritional status was determined by anthropometric measurements. The mean energy intake (EI) of the subjects from the families were 2435-4558 kj/d for age groups 1-5 years; 4446-4996 kj/d for age groups 6-15 years; 5632-6493 kj/d for age groups 16-35 years and; 5547-10,883 kj/d for age groups 36 years and above. Fifteen (42.9%) of the subjects from the families had a normal body mass index (BMI) of 20-25 kg/m2, 10 (28.6%) were underweight with BMI of 18.4 kg/m2 and below while 5 (14.3%) were of thin weight with BMI of 18.5-19.49 kg/m2. Energy intake contributed approximately 22% (r = 0.22) to the BMI.