COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BODY MASS INDEX OF MALE AND FEMALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EDO SOUTH, EDO STATE

Abstract

This paper examined and compares anthropometric index using Body Mass Index of male and female secondary school students in Edo South in Nigeria. The population for the study comprised all senior secondary school students in public secondary schools in Edo South. The sample size for the study consisted of two hundred students using random sampling techniques to select five schools. 40 students from each school making a total number of two hundred students were utilized for the study. The instrument used for the study was Body Mass Index. It was used to determine the Nutritional status of the students. Student’s Height and Weight were measured according to established standards. The findings shows that male and female students have equal numbers of normal weight, Male students have more underweight while female students have more over weight than male students. It was recommended among others that Government should provide a programme to enlighten the population on the implication of over Weight, under Weight obesity, and the importance of keeping normal weight.