Anthropometric study on children between 3 and 5 years old of a private school in Costa Rica according to WHO reference

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Adriana Acuna-Cordoba and Carmen Marin-Baratta

Universidad Hispanoamericana, Costa Rica

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Abstract

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Introduction: About nutrition of the population, the trend shows a decrease in the proportion of malnourished children and adults, and an increase in the proportion of overweight or obese adults and children. According to Costa Rican data from the 2008-2009 National Survey it was reported that 8.1% preschool were overweight (women 7.9% and men 8.3%). Objectives: Through a cross-sectional study, the nutritional status of preschoolers 3 to 5 years was explored according to the WHO reference. The subjects were 82 children enrolled in a private school in the capital; the school offers a comprehensive nutrition service. Results: According to the size indicator for age, there is a growth retardation of 2.9% at the preschool and the risk of overweight is 20.3; overweight and obesity is 5.8 and 3.6 percent respectively. Discussion: Exploration of nutritional status between three and four years old can shift the risk of overweight in order to prevent or detect early obesity and reduce the risk of common chronic no communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Conclusions: The results showed the benefits of screening for obesity in children between 3 and 5 years using BMI for age as indicator.

Biography

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Email: adriac79@hotmail.com