Dietary Diversity in Relation to Micronutrient Adequacy in the Diets of Adolescents of Fatehabad Haryana, India

Micronutrient deficiency is an alarming public health problem; it undermines the health, development, and academic potential of millions of children and adolescents globally (FAO, 2002). All around the world about 60–80 per cent of the adolescents have been facing micronutrient deficiency. In India alone more than 50 per cent of adolescent girls and 30 per cent of adolescent boys are iron deficient; the situation is worst in some states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Orissa, Jharkhand and many more. Adolescent girls in Chennai and Tamil Nadu were found to be affected by severe (6%), moderate (35%) and mild (38%) type of anemia (Premalatha et al., 2012). Micronutrients play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of good health. Adolescents, at the peak of their growth velocity require a large quantity of micronutrients. The increment in skeletal mass, body size and body density, associated International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 9 (2017) pp. 302-310 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com