Nutrition status and academic performance in secondary school-age students of Princess Chulabhorn's College Chiangrai

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Princess Chulabhorn's College Chiangrai (boarding school) during the beginning of the academic year 2008-2009. The objectives of this study were to determine nutrition status in relationship to IQ and academic performance in 820 students with ages ranging from 12-18 years old consisting of 312 males and 508 females. While researching the prevalence of underweight, normal, and overweight subjects based on their weight for age and weight for height (Thai reference), Body mass index (BMI) for age (Word Health Oraganization criteria), and body fat percentage, we found that body fat percentage was the best parameter to be used for obesity diagnosis. This was especially true in normal weight children who had a high percentage of body fat. When using this criteria, it was found that 22.1% of male students and 28.1% of female students had a high body fat percentage which indicated that they were obese. Segmental body composition analysis showed that male students had higher muscle mass at various body sites than that of female students. Whereas the fat tissue mass showed the opposite results. The prevalence of anemia in female students (2.6%) was higher than that in male students (0.3%). This may be due to blood loss during menstruation. The greatest cardiovascular risk factor which we found in this study was hypercholesterolemia. The prevalence was 16.0% in male students and 24.2% in female students, respectively. The type of hypercholeslemia in these students included both dietary and familial. Other cardiovascular risk factors which we found in this study were impaired fasting blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia. Average daily nutrient intakes were adequate except for iron, calcium, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intakes. Most students had a bright intelligence level. Male students had a mean IQ score that was significantly higher than female students. However, female students had higher scores in Thai language and English language courses than male students This study found that the relationship between nutrition status and both IQ and academic performance was at a level of r < 0.003. The results showed that students with normal nutrition status had the highest scores in academic performance and on IQ tests.