Nutritional Assessment of Palestinian Adolescents from East Jerusalem

To examine the nutritional status and dietary pattern of school aged children in East Jerusalem. This Cross-sectional study is the first comprehensive study ever conducted in East Jerusalem grades 6, 8 and 10. The total sample (351 students), 351 had 24-hour dietary recall and 317 had blood tests and 351 had their weight and height measured. Valid and reliable tools were used to measure the weight, height, hemoglobin level and dietary intake. The sample was collected April 2003 - January 2004. The moderate and mild forms of anaemia was 0.95% and 19% respectively while severe form of anaemia (7 gm/dl) turned out to be not of public health significance. Underweight (cut off value 18.5) was 30% for males and 22% for females. Obesity level (cut off value 30) was 3.3% among males and 4.8% among females. Furthermore, 27% of those with income average were underweight. School aged children macronutrient intake was inadequate when compared to 80% RDA. Students in East Jerusalem are generally suffering from malnutrition especially from underweight. More attention should be focused on the improvement of their dietary intake. Funding by (ANAHRI), Al-Quds University & IKY, Greece.