Differences in Body Mass Index among CBSE, ICSE, and State Board School Students in a Metropolitan City: A Comparative Analysis

Rapid urbanization and changing lifestyle patterns in metropolitan cities have increased concerns related to body weight and overall health among school-going adolescents, underscoring the need for systematic assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI) during this critical stage of growth. The present study aimed to assess and compare BMI among CBSE, ICSE, and State Board school students in a metropolitan city. A comparative research design was adopted, and the sample consisted of 975 boys aged 13-16 years, selected CBSE, ICSE, and State Board within the BBMP limits of Bangalore, with 325 students from each educational board. Anthropometric measurements of height (cm) and weight (kg) were obtained using a stadiometer and digital weighing machine, respectively, and BMI was calculated using standard procedures. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize BMI characteristics, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post-hoc analysis was employed to examine inter-board differences. The results revealed a statistically significant difference in BMI among the three school boards (F(2, 972) = 8.68, p < 0.05). Bonferroni post-hoc analysis indicated no significant difference between CBSE and ICSE students, while significant differences were observed between CBSE and State Board students and between ICSE and State Board students (p < 0.05). The mean BMI values were 22.48 ± 4.93 for CBSE students, 22.39 ± 3.74 for ICSE students, and 21.21 ± 4.22 for State Board students. The study concludes that educational board-wise variations in BMI exist among metropolitan city school students, highlighting the need for school-based health promotion strategies, regular physical activity programs, and nutritional awareness initiatives to support healthy growth and overall well-being during adolescence.