Journal of Research in Medical Sciences1735-199514220090427129133ENDepartment of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West BengalDepartment of Anthropology, Dinabandhu Mahavidyalaya, Bongoan, West Bengal2008090820081201<ul><li><strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: To assess the prevalence of thinness among 5-10 year old school children of Nandigram, Purba Medinipur District of West Bengal, India.</li><li><strong>METHODS</strong>: A total of 596 students (323 boys and 288 girls) aged 5-10 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Height and weight were measured and the body mass index (BMI) was computed. The new&nbsp; nternational BMI-based classification cut-off points proposed by Cole et al were utilized to identify thinness.</li><li><strong>RESULTS</strong>: The overall (age-combined) mean BMI among boys and girls were 13.9 kg/m2 (SD = 1.4) and 13.8 kg/m2 (SD = 1.2), respectively. In general, mean BMI increased with age in both sexes. There was no&nbsp; ignificant sex difference in mean BMI. The overall (age-combined) prevalence of thinness was 62.9% and 61.6% in boys and girls,&nbsp; espectively.</li><li><strong>CONCLUSIONS</strong>: The present study clearly indicated that the nutritional situation of these children was unsatisfactory.</li><li><strong>KEYWORDS</strong>: Body mass index, undernutrition, thinness, IOTF cut off points, nandigram, West Bengal.</li></ul>http://jrms.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrms/article/view/2278http://jrms.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrms/article/download/2278/1624