Impact of midday meals-have all variables been considered?

摘要

This is with regard to the article "Comparison of nutritional status of rural and urban school students receiving midday meals in schools of Bengaluru, India: A cross sectional study" by Shalini et al., published in J Postgrad Med. The authors have done a commendable job by assessing the nutritional status in rural schools and comparing it with that in urban schools in Bengaluru, India. However, I have a few concerns regarding the results. The authors have concluded in the discussion that the magnitude of the burden of undernourished students as seen in this study would have been much greater in the absence of the midday meal program. However, the authors have not consolidated their statement with evidence in terms of comparison with either those children who were not receiving any midday meal or longitudinally; i.e. observing a child's growth over a period of time. That is why it is questionable as to how the authors have validated this study without any comparison group in it. It would have been useful if the authors had provided us with the protein and calorie requirement being fulfilled through the midday meal program.