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To assess non-verbal intelligence and its relationship with nutritional status, nutrient intakes and parents’ education in school-children. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in children between 6–11 years, without any known chronic disorder or intellectual disability. Data were collected regarding parents’ education, anthropometry and dietary intakes. Non-verbal intelligence was assessed by Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM). In 323 enrolled children (52.9% boys), a significant positive association was observed between RCPM scores and parents’ education (father’s rs=0.14, mother’s rs=0.22), height Z-scores (rs=0.14) and dietary intakes of zinc (rs=0.14), iron (rs=0.12) and folate (rs=0.14). Height in normal range, higher zinc, iron and folate intakes, and parental higher educational levels were associated with higher non-verbal intelligence scores.

To assess height velocity and develop height velocity percentiles in 5-17-year-old Indian children; and to study the magnitude and age at peak height velocity. Mixed longitudinal study. Private schools at Pune and Delhi. 2949 children (1681 boys) belonging to affluent class aged 5–17 years (1473-Pune, 1476-Delhi). Annual height and weight measurements from 2007 to 2013. Total 13214 height velocity measurements (7724 on boys). Height velocity percentiles (3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th) constructed using LMS chart maker. Age- and gender-specific height velocity percentiles were generated. Median height velocity in girls decreased from 5 to 8 years, increased to a peak of 6.6 cm at 10.5 years and then declined to 0.3 cm at 17.5 years. In boys, median height velocity reduced till 10.5, increased to a peak of 6.8 cms at 13.5 years and then declined to 1cm by 18 years. Height velocity percentiles in 5-17-year-old urban Indian children were constructed.

To create gender-specific percentile curves for percent body fat (%BF) by Bio electrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) for screening adiposity and risk of hypertension in Indian children and generate reference curves for percent fat-free mass (%FFM), muscle mass (%LM) and bone mineral content (BMC) by using bioelectrical impedance. Secondary analysis of data from previous multicenter cross-sectional studies. Private schools from five regions of India. A random sample of 3850 healthy school children (2067 boys) (5-17 yr) from private schools in five major Indian cities. Anthropometry, blood pressure (BP) and body composition were measured by bioelectrical impedance. Reference curves were generated by the LMS method. %BF, %FFM, %LM, BMC and BP Median %BF increased by 6% from 5 to 13 years of age and declined (around 2%) up to 17 years in boys. In girls, %BF increased by 8% from 5 to 14 years and thereafter declined by 3%. Based upon the risk of hypertension, the new cut-offs of 75th and 85th percentile of %BF were proposed for detecting over fatness and excess fatness in children. Median %FFM was 90% at 5 yrs and decreased till 12 years, and then showed a slight increase to 84% at 17 yrs in boys. In girls, it was 86% at 5 yrs and decreased till 15 yrs, and plateaued at 71.8% at 17 yrs. Reference curves for percent body fat for Indian children would be useful to screen children for health risk in clinical set up.

To validate body composition measurements by Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) against Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) as the reference method in healthy children and adolescents. Cross-sectional Schools in and around Pune city, India. A random sample of 210 (114 boys, 96 girls) apparently healthy Indian children and adolescents (5–18 y). Weight, height, Tanner stage (TS) were recorded. Body composition measures: fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), bone mineral content (BMC) and body fat percentage (%BF) were assessed by BIA and DXA on a single day. Agreement between the methods was estimated by Pearson’s correlation, and Bland and Altman analysis. %BF, FM, FFM, LM, BMC. BIA underestimated %BF by 6.7 (3.7)% as compared to DXA. Mean FFM, BMC and LM by BIA were significantly higher than by DXA (P

To create age- and gender-specific Triceps Skinfold Thickness percentile curves for Indian children; and to determine cut-offs for predicting the risk of childhood hypertension. Cross-sectional. Multicentric, school-based, 5 major Indian cities 13375 children (7590 boys) aged 5-17 years Data on height, weight, blood pressure, triceps skinfold thickness (using Harpenden Skinfold caliper) were collected. Reference triceps skinfold thickness percentile curves were derived for boys and girls by LMS (lambda-mu-sigma) method. Receiver operating curve analyses were performed to determine the optimal cut-off of triceps skinfold thickness centile for predicting the risk of hypertension. Percentile curves for boys plateau around 13 years whereas for girls the curves increase steadily till the age of 17 years. Median triceps skinfold thickness increased by 7% to 9% till the age of 9 years in boys and girls. After 12 years, median triceps skinfold thickness decreased by 1% to 2% in boys but increased by 3% to 4% in girls. The optimal cut-off percentile yielding maximal sensitivity (68%) and specificity (74-78%) for predicting high blood pressure was the 70th triceps skinfold thickness percentile in both genders. Percentile curves for triceps skinfold thickness developed in the present study would be useful in the assessment of adiposity and the risk of hypertension in Indian children.