Relación entre el estado nutricional y hábitos alimentarios de los escolares pertenecientes a las Unidades Educativas José Rafael Arízaga y Sagrado Corazón, Cuenca 2018

Abstract

Background: Eating habits influence the malnutrition of school children due to an excess or deficit of nutrients, which constitutes a crucial stage for the establishment of a healthy diet that contributes to the improvement of the nutritional status of children. Objective: To determine the relationship between the nutritional status and eating habits of school children belonging to the José Rafael Arízaga and the Sagrado Corazón Educational Units, Cuenca 2018. Methodology: A cross-sectional study that included 101 school children, ranging from 9 to 12 years old, who are enrolled in the 2018-2019 school year. The sampling was probabilistic. Habits and food consumption were determined by means of a feeding questionnaire divided into two sections. To establish the nutritional status we used the indicators of weight for age (W / A), height for age (H/ A), body to mass index (BMI), subscapular folds and triceps. The EPIDAT 4.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The sample was 101 school children, of which 65.35% have a normal nutritional status, followed by cases with overweight 20.79% and obesity 7.92%. 35% of the total population presented a body fat percentage ranging from high to very high. A positive relationship was stablished between the high consumption of unhealthy foods acquired at home and at school, the low consumption of vegetables and water with excess weight in 28.71% of school children. In relation to eating habits 61% of school children maintained 3 main meals and 2 snacks. Conclusions: A large proportion of schoolchildren have high and very high percentages of fat, which are considered a risk to health from an early age. In addition, there is a positive relationship between high consumption of low nutritional quality food and low consumption of vegetables and water with excess weight.