Descripción del estado nutricional, hábitos alimentarios, actividad física y ambientes alimentarios en niños que asisten a 7 escuelas fiscales del cantón Cuenca 2025

Abstract

Background: Rates of childhood malnutrition continue to increase; these alterations in nutritional status represent a multidimensional and multifactorial problem determined by dietary habits, physical activity, and the little-studied school food environment. Objective: To describe nutritional status, dietary habits, physical activity, and food environments in children attending seven public schools in the canton of Cuenca in 2025. Methods: Nutritional status was assessed through anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and waist circumference; body composition was evaluated using the bioelectrical impedance device InBody 120; dietary habits were described using a school-based questionnaire; physical activity was assessed using the APALQ questionnaire; and food environments were evaluated with a validated instrument. Results: Overweight and obesity were observed in 40.5% of the child population, with differences in body composition according to sex and age. Females showed a greater but non-progressive increase in fat mass, whereas males exhibited a greater and progressive increase in musculoskeletal mass. Dietary habits revealed a high consumption of sweets and carbonated beverages. Differences were observed in the origin of snacks: children who purchased food selected mainly processed products, while those who brought food from home consumed fruits, water, and dairy products. A total of 27.5% of the population was sedentary. Food environments differed by area: street food stalls were more common around rural schools, while restaurants predominated in urban areas, with unhealthy foods prevailing. Conclusions: The population showed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, frequent consumption of processed foods, sedentary behavior, and school environments characterized by a predominance of unhealthy food options.