Nutritional status and dietary practices among women aged 15-49 years in Patna

Background : Women of reproductive age (15–49 years) have increased nutritional requirements, and inadequate dietary intake during this period can adversely affect maternal and child health outcomes. Bihar, including urban areas like Patna, continues to face a high burden of undernutrition and anemia among women. Objective : The goal of this research was to examine the dietary patterns and nutritional status of reproductive-aged women residing in Kankarbagh, Patna, Bihar. Methods : Two hundred women, ranging in age from fifteen to forty-nine, were randomly recruited from a community-based study to participate in this cross-sectional research. Data was collected using a pre-test structured questionnaire, a 24-hour food recall, and anthropometric measures. Body mass index (BMI) was used to quantify nutritional status, whereas anaemia was determined using clinical records and self-reported data. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics were used, and SPSS version 21.0 was utilised. Results : The results showed that the diet consisted mostly of cereals and had very little pulses, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat. Iron, calcium, vitamin A, and riboflavin are four essential micronutrients that many women did not consume in the amounts suggested by their doctors. Overall, 34% of the female participants were overweight or obese, whereas 14% were undernourished (BMI <18.5 kg/m 2). High incidences of anaemia were seen in pregnant women, nursing mothers, and adolescent females. Conclusion : The study highlights widespread undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among women of reproductive age in urban Patna, underscoring the urgent need for targeted nutrition education, dietary diversification, and anemia prevention strategies.