Background: Under–nutrition of a society is grossly reflected in school–going children. Body mass index (BMI) and skin fold thickness (SFT) are major indicators of nutritional status in growing children.

Aims:   The present study intends to evaluate the relative roles of BMI and SFT as markers of age–wise under–nutrition in school going children belonging to low socioeconomic (LSE) status and high socioeconomic status (HSE) of the  age group of 6 to 8 years.

Methods:  BMI and SFT were measured age–wise in both LSE and HSE school–going children in the age group of 6 to 8 years by standard techniques. Their differences were evaluated between the LSE and HSE group children using their mean and SD values.  Changes in the BMI and SFT values of the LSE group children were analyzed age–wise using ANOVA to assess their relative importance in each group.

Results: BMI and SFT were significantly reduced in the LSE group in male and female children in their 6 and 7 yrs of age group. In the 8 years age group BMI became comparable with the HSE group in both sexes. SFT remained significantly lower in the LSE group in both genders.

Conclusions:  From the present study we can conclude that the children of LSE status have  significantly lower BMI and SFT compared to those of HSE group of children irrespective of gender variations. SFT stands out to be a better indicator for under–nutrition in both sexes from  6 to 8 years of age.