Influencia de la ingesta alimentaria en el estado nutricional de escolares de las Unidades Educativas: La Asunción y Zoila Aurora Palacios del Cantón Cuenca, 2018-2019.

Abstract

Background: School age is a crucial stage in the nutritional field, because children acquire eating habits, which will determine their nutritional status. The change in food intake has meant moving from a diet with a predominance of natural foods to a diet with low nutritional intake, which, together with a sedentary lifestyle, has led to a rapid increase in malnutrition problems. Objective: To determine the influence of dietary intake on the nutritional status of school children between the ages of 9-12 in the Educational Units: La Asunción and Zoila Aurora Palacios del Canton Cuenca. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study in school boys and girls of the Educational Units: La Asunción and Zoila Aurora Palacios del Canton Cuenca. 98 schoolchildren of both sexes were evaluated; their food intake by frequency of consumption and nutritional status through the body mass index (weight / height ratio), waist circumference, triceps and subscapular folds. Results: There is a higher prevalence in the male sex of overweight and obesity with 29,6%. In relation to food intake, the total population does not comply with the recommendations for consumption of water, fruits, vegetables, bread, legumes, dairy products, meats, juices and / or soft drinks, fast food, sweets, salty snacks and cakes. The male sex and school children who are overweight and obese have the lowest consumption of vegetables (0,93 average / day) and water (2,57 average glasses / day). Conclusion: Dietary intake has a negative influence on the nutritional status of school children in the La Asunción and Zoila Aurora Palacios del Canton Cuenca Educational Units.