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A SURVEY REPORT ON DIETARY HABIT AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF A

FAMILY OF “KHARUABAZAR” AT CHINSURAH, HOOGHLY, WEST BENGAL

Article in WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES · May 2016

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 WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Ghosh et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
SJIF Impact Factor 6.041

Volume 5, Issue 6, 1338-1345 Research Article ISSN 2278 – 4357

A SURVEY REPORT ON DIETARY HABIT AND NUTRITIONAL

STATUS OF A FAMILY OF “KHARUABAZAR” AT CHINSURAH,
HOOGHLY, WEST BENGAL

Chandona Saha, Suvendu Ghosh, Kuntal Gupta, Sanjib Hazra, Rabindranath Dome,
Debosree Ghosh*

1
Department of Physiology (Undergraduate and Post Graduate), Hooghly Mohsin College,
P.O. - Chinsurah, Dist. - Hooghly, Pin-712 101, West Bengal, India.

Article Received on ABSTRACT

29 March 2016,
Revised on 20 April 2016,
Accepted on 11 May 2016
DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20166-6904
*Corresponding Author
Debosree Ghosh
Department of Physiology
(Undergraduate and Post
Graduate), Hooghly
Mohsin College, P.O. -
Chinsurah, Dist. -
Hooghly, Pin-712 101,
West Bengal, India.
Our study was conducted for knowing the dietary habit and nutritional
status of a family of “KharuaBazar” at Chinsurah, District Hoogly. The
family we studied belongs to middle class socio-economic status. We
evaluated the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the members of the family
from their respective height and weight. Blood pressure was also
recorded. The prime objective of our study was to get an idea about the
basic physiological status of the family members from their dietary
habit. We also tried to understand if there is any relationship between
the basic physiological status and dietary habit of the family.
KEYWORDS: Body Mass Index, blood pressure, dietary habit,
nutritional status, socio-economic.

INTRODUCTION
Diet Survey constitutes an essential part of studying nutrients intake level, dietary habit,
dietary pattern and nutritional status of an individual or a family or families in a community.
It also reveals the source of nutrients and attitude towards food. Under circumstances where
frank signs of malnutrition do not exist, such type of survey may provide an indication of the
adequacy/ inadequacy, of the diet for the maintenance of optimal nutritional status of
individuals or families. It also provides data regarding dietary adequacy/ inadequacy which
helps to exclude or include the type of food with required quantity to overcome the
imbalanced status of the diet if found any. The deficiency or excess of a specific nutrient or

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Ghosh et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

food groups are identified and accordingly the manoeuvre may be undertaken to ensure
balanced diet intake. Questionnaire studies is naturally not accurate and comprises of
questionnaire method. By visiting the family and collecting the data indirect assessment is
performed and this is applicable for the family as a whole or at individual level.[1]

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Selection of the family
The family was selected for conducting survey randomly from the local area of „Chandan
Nagar‟, Hooghly, West Bengal. The family had three members. The family comprised of the
head of the family who is a business man by profession, his wife and one daughter. The
family was selected keeping in mind certain things i.e., co-operative family, consisting of 3 to
7 members, no festivals (in society /in family) during the survey period, no ritualistic fasting
of any member (during the period of survey), presence of family throughout the period.

The Family – daily habits

Daily habits of the family were taken into consideration during the survey work. The family
buys all regular food commodities (vegetables, cereals etc) from the market nearest to their
house. They use water provided by local municipality and this water is also used for cooking
purpose; They use standard water purifier for purifying drinking water. For washing clothes,
utensils, vegetables and fishes they use the same water from. Sanitation system of the family
is appropriate.

Time Period of the Survey

Studies show that a three days dietary survey is good enough to understand the nutritional
status of the family.[1-3] Our survey work was conducted in the household of the selected
famiy. The survey was conducted for a period of three consecutive days. An extreme care
was taken to make sure that there was no exaggeration or suppression of facts regarding the
food intake.

Survey method
Oral questionare method and raw food weighment method were used for the study. Food
group wise consumptions and nutrient wise consumptions were compared to their
requirements and thus excess or deficiency were evaluated.

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Average Edible Consumption/ Consumption Unit/ Day for each family was calculated in
terms of Raw Food/ Day. Nutrient Value of all items or foods consumed/ Day was
considered. After calculating, data of Average Consumption of Food Items and different
Nutrient Consumption Unit/ Day was compared with ICMR Standards. Diet Survey is
broadly classified as Qualitative and Quantitative. Our Survey can be considered as
Quantitative.

Body mass index (BMI)

Body mass index is a simple anthropometric index which shows the current nutritional status
of an individual.BMI of each family member was calculated by weight and height
measurements using the following formula.
BMI= Weight (kg)/Height (m2)

Blood Pressure Measurement

Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures have physiological as well as clinical
significance.[1] We measured blood pressure using sphygmomanometer.

RESULTS
The food group wise requirement and nutrient wise requirement was consulted from the
ICMR standard and we calculated the food group wise and nutrient wise consumption of the
family. We evaluated percentage of deficiency and excess for various food groups for a better
understanding of the nutritional status of the family.

While comparing the requirement and actual consumption in respect to food groups for the
family, It has been observed that the family is deficient in cereals (40%), pulses (70%),roots
& tubers (76%) leafy vegetables (50.18%), others vegetables (60%), milk & milk products
(40%), flesh foods (16%), sugar & jiggery (70%) and fruits & nuts (68%). However, fats &
oil (66%) consumption is excess than the requirement (Table 1).

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 Ghosh et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Table: 1 Food group wise requirement, consumption, deficiencies and excess by the family
Cereals Pulses Roots and Leafy Other Fats and Milk and milk
Flesh foods(gm)
(gm) (gm) tubers(gm) veg.(gm) veg.(gm) oil(gm) products
REQUIREMENT
Total 990 210 600 300 600 70 900 175
Per ACU 375 75 200 100 200 20 300 75
Total 580 173.33 131.56 139 219 93 500 173
COMSUMPTION
Per ACU 207.88 62.12 47.15 50 78.49 33.33 179.21 62
Total 410 35 469 161 381 400 2
DEFFICIENCY
Per ACU 167.12 12.87 152 50.18 121.50 120.18 12
Total 23
EXCESS
Per ACU 13.33

Comparing the requirements & actual consumption of nutrient for the family, it was found that the family is deficient in energy (30%),protein
(13%), iron (21%), vitamin A (13%), vitamin B1 (12%),vitamin B 2 (37%), nicotinic acid (28%), free folic acid (63%). The family was found
to have excess consumption of fat (83%),carbohydrate (28), calcium (17%) , vitamin C (5%) (Table 2).

Table: 2 Nutrient wise requirement, consumption, deficiencies and excess by the family
Energy Protein Fat CHO Calcium Iron Vit A VitB1 VitB2 NICOTINIC ACID
(cal) (gm) (gm) (gm) (mg) (mg) (µg) (mg) (gm) (gm)
REQUIREMENT
Total 6530 170 80 1295.49 1800 59 1800 3.4 3.8 42
Per ACU 2320 60 25 460.37 600 17 600 1.2 1.4 16
Total 4518.31 145.03 128.15 1976.55 1970.55 37.07 144.33 2.94 2.45 31.96
CONSUMPTION
Per ACU 1619.46 51.98 45.93 593.75 706.29 13.28 517.701.05 0.87 11.45
Total 2011.69 24.97 21.93 355.61 0.46 1.35 10.04
DEFFICIENCY Per ACU 700.5 8.02 3.72 82.89 0.15 0.53 4.55
Percentage 30% 13% 21% 13% 12% 37% 28%
Total 48.15 681.06 170.55
EXCESS Per ACU 20.93 133.28 106.26
Percentage 83% 28% 17%

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 Ghosh et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI of each subject was evaluated using their respective weight (Kg) and height (m), (Table
4.A.). Comparing to the standard recommendation (Table 4 B.), the health status of each
subject was predicted and considered in context to their dietary habit and nutritional status.

Table 4 A.Body Mass Index Chart

Family Age Weight Height
Sex BMI Remarks
members (Years) (Kg) (cm)
1. 50 M 70 180 21.6 Normal
2. 43 F 56 150 24.88 Normal
3. 20 F 50 145 23.78 Normal

Table: 4 B. Significance of BMI (Nutritional Grading)

BMI State of CED
<16.0 Grade III CED
16.0 – 17.0 Grade II CED
17.0 – 18.5 Grade I CED
18.5 – 20.0 Below Normal
20.0 – 25.0 Normal
25.0 – 30.0 Grade I Obese
≥30.0 Grade II Obese

 CED – Critical energy deficiency

Blood Pressure (systolic & diastolic)

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure of each family member was measured and recorded
(Table 5).

Table 5.Blood Pressure Chart

Family Age Blood Pressure (mm of Hg)
Sex
members (Years) Systolic Diastolic
1. 50 M 130 86
2. 43 F 112 78
3. 20 F 110 72

DISCUSSION
According to our diet survey report it is evident that the family consumes an improper daily
diet which is deficient in certain essential nutrients and at the same time is excess in some
others. The diet of the family needs to be planned.

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From the food group wise results, it is revealed that daily diet of the family is deficient in
nearly all groups like cereals, pulses, leafy vegetables, some other vegetables, milk and milk
products, flesh foods and jaggery, whereas fats & oils consumption is quite higher than the
requirements.

As per nutrient wise results, the family is found to be deficient in consumption of most of the
nutrients. Some deficiency is observed in vitamin and mineral groups. The cause of such
deficiency is due to inadequate intake of pulses, leafy vegetables, other vegetables and milk
& milk products etc.

It is also observed that fat, carbohydrate and some micronutrients like calcium, vitamin C etc.
consumptions by the family are excess than requirements which is not good for the normal
physiological process of the body. Excess consumption of fat is due to excess consumption
of “fats & oils” by the family.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the weight of a person in kilograms divided by the square
of height in meters. A high BMI is considered as an indirect indicator of high body fat
content and obesity. BMI determination is an easy-to-perform as well as inexpensive
method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health issues.[5]

Body mass index of each member of the family is normal which reflects good status of their
overall health. Surprisingly excess and deficient intake of certain nutrients has not affected
the BMI of the subjects. Regular exercise, thyroid hormone level and activity, metabolic rate
of the body, genetic predisposition of the activities of various lipolytic enzymes and
metabolic status6 etc. may be the reasons behind such strange observation. Establishment of
the facts mentioned above in correlation to the normal BMI of the members of the family
inspite of consumption of excess fats and oils needs further detailed investigation.

Blood pressure (Systolic and diastolic) reflects the cardiovascular status of an individual and
is considered as an early marker parameter for detection of possibilities of cardiovascular
disorders5.None of the family members exhibit hypertension. The females rather have low
blood pressure values. Adequate intake of protein and other essential vitamins and minerals
should be included in the daily diet of the family.

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CONCLUSION
As reflected from food group wise results and nutrient wise results, the family consumes
certain foods and nutrients in excess than required while they consume certain other foods
and nutrients less than their actual requirement. This imbalance in diet should be corrected by
proper intake of foods and nutrients as per requirement obeying the guidelines laid by the
Indian Council of Medical Research (which has already been communicated to the family).

Though the BMI and Blood pressure values of all three members of the family as observed
are nothing to worry about only except that the two female members of the family have low
blood pressure values than normal. Inclusion of adequate quantity of protein and other
essential nutrients in their diet is recommended. Green leafy vegetables and indigenous
spices and spice herbs should be incorporated in the foods consumed by the family. They
help to meet requirements of various micro and macro nutrients. They also strengthen the
immune system of the body and are rich source of antioxidants as well.[7,8]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors acknowledge the Department of Physiology, Hooghly Mohsin College and the
Government of West Bengal. They also acknowledge the head of the family and all other
family members for cooperating during the survey work.

Conflict of Interest
Declared None.

REFERENCES
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nutritional status of a family at Chandan Nagar, Hooghly, West Bengal: A Survey
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the-Post-2015-Development-Agenda.pdf
3. Yang YJ, Kim MK, Hwang SH, Ahn Y, Shim JE, Kim DH. Relative validities of 3-day
food records and the food frequency questionnaire. Nutrition Research and Practice,
2010; 4(2): 142-148. doi:10.4162/nrp.2010.4.2.142.

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4. Huybrechts I, De Bacquer D, Matthys C, De Backer G, De Henauw S. Validity and

reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire for estimating
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7. Ghosh D, Firdaus SB, Mitra E, Chattopadhyay A, Pattari SK, Jana K, Bandyopadhyay D.
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