Food and Nutritional Assessment in Schoolchildren from Mountainous Areas of Argentinean Northwest

ROSSI, C.; A. DE PIERO; SAMMAN, N.; BASSETT, N.

Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

iMedPub Journals

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2017 vol. 03 p. 1 - 8

2472-1921

Background:Previous studies in Argentinean northwest found nutritional problemsthat could affect especially children, in process of growth and development.Objective: To assess nutritional status and food consumption frequency adequacyin relation to dietary guidelines in schoolchildren of high-altitude regions fromnorthwest of Argentina.Methods: The study involved a sample of schoolchildren. Anthropometric andbiochemical data were collected. The metabolic syndrome risk factors were definedfollowing cook criterion. A nutritional questionnaire containing the main foodgroups was used. Economic and educational levels of household were analyzed.Results: The sample consisted of 242 children, being the mean age 8.8 ± 2.0.Undernourished (2.2%), low weight (12.7%), overweight (12.7%) and obese(7.4%) children were observed. Stunting and obesity coexist. Dietary patternsshowed high intake of simple carbohydrates, sugar products and do not complywith the recommendations of the Argentinean food guidelines. Householdincome observation showed low economic level. An elevated proportion ofchildren presented metabolic syndrome (18.2%). Taking into account ionic calciumcalculation, 35.6% of them showed deficiency of this mineral.Conclusions: Problems of malnutrition due to excess or deficient intake of nutrientswere found. The existence of inadequate dietary patterns combined with physicalinactivity increases the risk of chronic disease.