Background: Previous studies in Argentinean northwest found nutritional problems that could affect especially children, in process of growth and development.

Objective: To assess nutritional status and food consumption frequency adequacy in relation to dietary guidelines in schoolchildren of high-altitude regions from northwest of Argentina.

Methods: The study involved a sample of schoolchildren. Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected. The metabolic syndrome risk factors were defined following cook criterion. A nutritional questionnaire containing the main food groups 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 patterns showed high intake of simple carbohydrates, sugar products and do not comply with the recommendations of the Argentinean food guidelines. Household income observation showed low economic level. An elevated proportion of children presented metabolic syndrome (18.2%). Taking into account ionic calcium calculation, 35.6% of them showed deficiency of this mineral.

Conclusions: Problems of malnutrition due to excess or deficient intake of nutrients were found. The existence of inadequate dietary patterns combined with physical inactivity increases the risk of chronic disease.

Main nutritional problems found in schoolchildren in this study were the presence of overweight/obesity and stunting. This situation resembles to that reported in previous studies in the heights of northwestern Argentina and other countries with similar social, ethnic and geographic characteristics.

The type of diet, sedentary lifestyles, socioeconomic conditions and food availability are factors that determine the obesogenic environment in the population. Associated with industrialization, in this study, a dietary pattern characterized by consumption of simple carbohydrates, saturated fat, high-sodium products and sugar products was observed; instead of an eating pattern consisting in products such as corn, potatoes, peppers and Andean cereals belonging to the region of northwestern Argentina.

It is noteworthy that fish consumption is not common in this population due to eating habits and geographic availability. Consumption of foods high in calories and poor in micronutrient content is common since they provide greater satiating power, high energy intake and lower prices. Some authors observed eating patterns in schoolchildren similar to those found in this work.

With Regards,
Joseph Kent
Journal Manager
Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics