PD939 - DIETARY HABITS AND RISK OF MALNUTRITION AMONG PEDIATRIC CHILDREN OF AGE 5-12 YEARS

PD939

DIETARY HABITS AND RISK OF MALNUTRITION AMONG PEDIATRIC CHILDREN OF AGE 5-12 YEARS

E. B. CANDAY^1,*, S. Hiran²

¹HOD of Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, ²Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Dr. BMN College of Home Science, Mumbai, India

Rationale: Malnutrition among school-aged children remains a significant public health concern in India. Children aged 5–12 years represent a critical developmental stage where nutritional intake influences growth, cognitive development, and long-term health. However, this age group often receives less attention in nutritional surveillance compared with younger children. The present study aimed to assess dietary habits and evaluate the risk of malnutrition among pediatric children aged 5–12 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 100 children aged 5–12 years. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and dietary habits were collected using a structured questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall and a FFQ. Anthropometric measurements were recorded. Nutritional status was evaluated using WHO growth standards, including height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) Z-scores. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were used to examine associations.

Results: The mean age of participants was 8.79 ± 2.10 years. The average BMI was 16.63 ± 2.68 kg/m², with mean height and weight of 132.70 ± 12.59 cm and 29.59 ± 7.15 kg, respectively. Most children had normal nutritional status, with 66% showing normal height-for-age and 70% normal weight-for-age. The mean energy intake was 1499 ± 253 kcal, with average carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake of 254 g, 29 g, and 74.5 g, respectively. Calorie intake showed a significant positive correlation with anthropometric indicators including BAZ, WAZ, and HAZ.

Conclusion: The findings highlight that although most children exhibited normal anthropometric status, several dietary concerns such as imbalanced macronutrient intake and suboptimal dietary diversity were observed. Dietary habits, particularly energy and protein intake, were significantly associated with growth indicators.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared