Behavioural and anthropometric risk factors of non communicable diseases: Experience from secondary students of a rural school of south 24th Parganas, West Bengal Behavioural and anthropometric risk factors of non communicable diseases: Experience from secondary students of a rural school of south 24th Parganas, West Bengal

Abstract

A descriptive school based study was conducted to assess behavioural  risk factors and anthropometric risk factors among the Secondary students of selected rural school of South 24^th parganas , West Bengal. Total 270 students including boys and girls from class IX and class X were selected by convenient sampling technique. The data were collected through questionnaire based on WHO STEP approach. The behavioral risk factors considered under the study were tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet. Anthropometric risk factors were measured through assessment of abdominal obesity and overweight. Study showed 12.7 boys  were currently smoking tobacco and 3.46 % boys consumed alcohol within past 12 months; 16.29 % and 29.6 % students consumed fruits and vegetables regularly, 28.8 % students were skipping breakfast frequently, 35.5 % students used to consume fast food 3days or more in a week and 27% students were physical inactive. Only 16.18 boys and 18.55 girls were overweight ( BMI > 25 kg/m2); Abdominal obesity was prevalent among 12.71 % boys and 21.54 % girls.