Estado nutricional de escolares y su relación con el hábito y calidad del desayuno / Nutritional condition of school-age children and its relationship with habit and quality of breakfast

In Argentina, childhood obesity is a serious public health problem. Skipping breakfast is a behavior associated with overweight and obesity. The aim of this survey was to determine whether there is association between nutritional status and breakfast frequency and quality in children from public schools in the city of Santa Fe. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 5-12 years old male and female children attending public primary schools, located in downtown Santa Fe. Body mass index (BMI), breakfast weekly frequency and quality and mid-morning snack consumption were assessed in 637 schoolchildren. The 46% of school age children were overweight/obese. Increased risk of overweight/obesity was observed in girls who skip breakfast. In boys, the risk of overweight/obesity is higher if the breakfast quality is insufficient or if they skip breakfast. No association between quality of mid-morning snack and nutritional status was found. There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in these schoolchildren, being this risk higher in those who do not have breakfast every day or have it inadequately.

En Argentina, la obesidad infantil representa un serio problema de salud pública. La omisión del desayuno es una conducta que se relaciona con riesgo de sobrepeso y obesidad. Objetivo: Determinar si existe asociación entre el estado nutricional y la frecuencia y calidad del desayuno en niños de escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Santa Fe. Sujetos y Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal, descriptivo realizado en escolares de ambos sexos (edad 5-12 años). Se evaluó en 637 escolares el índice de masa corporal (IMC), frecuencia y calidad del desayuno y alimentos consumidos durante la mañana. Resultados: El 46% de los alumnos presentó sobrepeso y obesidad. Se evidenció mayor riesgo de sobrepeso/obesidad en las niñas que no desayunan diariamente y en los niños que realizaban un desayuno de mala/insuficiente calidad; no encontrándose asociación entre la calidad de la colación y el estado nutricional. Conclusión: existe elevada prevalencia de sobrepeso/obesidad en estos escolares; siendo mayor el riesgo en quienes omiten el desayuno o lo hacen de manera inadecuada.

Educación alimentaria: impacto en la elección de productos saludables en kioscos escolares / Food education: impact on choosing healthy products in school kiosks

La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en la población infantil argentina se ha incrementado, siendo uno de los causales los hábitos alimentarios inapropiados. Un factor condicionante en la alimentación de los niños lo constituyen los kioscos escolares. Objetivos: evaluar el impacto de una propuesta de educación alimentaria nutricional (EAN) y de la implementación de kiosco saludable en la elección de los alimentos comprados por los niños en la escuela. Población y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, comparativo (abril a noviembre de 2012) en dos escuelas primarias públicas (DS y MM) de la ciudad de Santa Fe. Se utilizaron encuestas para evaluar conocimientos nutricionales y consumo de alimentos adquiridos en el kiosco escolar. Resultados: los escolares de ambas instituciones pre¬eren comprar alimentos no recomendables en el kiosco escolar. El consumo de estos productos fue menor en la escuela que tenía ciertas restricciones de venta. Luego de aplicar EAN durante seis meses acompañada de la implementación de kioscos saludables, se encontró que más del 90% de los alumnos reconoció los alimentos considerados como no recomendables y se observó una tendencia a la disminución de su consumo. Sin embargo, tienen di¬cultad para reconocer los alimentos considerados como recomendables y si bien su consumo se incrementó, el porcentaje de niños que los eligió siguió siendo muy bajo. Conclusiones: los conocimientos adquiridos en el aula parecerían ser un factor importante en la elección de alimentos recomendables como colación. Pero resulta indispensable implementar políticas sanitarias efectivas con normas que regulen la venta de alimentos en los kioscos escolares.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in our country caused by improper eating habits and decreasing physical activity, is of great concern. A conditioning factor in the diet of children is school canteens. Objetives: to evaluate the impact of a proposed nutrition education program (EAN) and the implementation of kiosks, on choosing healthy food purchased by children at school. Population and methods: a cross-sectional descriptive and comparative study was conducted in two public elementary schools (DS and MM) located in downtown Santa Fe. Surveys were used to assess nutrition knowledge and consumption of food purchased in the school kiosk. Results: children from two different public schools in the city of Santa Fe prefer non-recommended food when they buy a snack at school. The consumption of these products was lower in the school that had a sale’s restriction. After developing a nutrition education program (EAN) for six months, accompanied by the implementation of healthy kiosks, more than 90% of students recognized non- recommended products and the purchase of these products decreased. However, the children have dif¬culty in recognizing the recommended foods and although its consumption increased, the percentage of children who chose remained very low. Conclusions: the results obtained show the importance of implementing nutrition education policies in the school system along with kiosks offering healthy food. However, it is essential to implement effective health policies with rules governing the sale of food in school kiosks.

Hábito y calidad del desayuno en alumnos de dos escuelas primarias públicas de la ciudad de Santa Fe / Breakfast habit and quality in students from two public primary schools in the city of Santa Fe

Introducción. El desayuno proporciona la energía y los nutrientes necesarios que permiten un óptimo rendimiento físico e intelectual. Objetivo. Conocer la frecuencia del desayuno, los factores que condicionan el hábito y su omisión, la calidad del desayuno y la colación en los niños de escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Santa Fe. Población y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Se evaluaron 637 alumnos mediante una encuesta estructurada de respuestas cerradas. Resultados El 75% de los niños desayunaban diariamente; solo 1,6% realizaban un desayuno de buena calidad. Consumir el desayuno todos los días o a veces no dependía de la compañía de un familiar. De 1°a 5° grado la frecuencia semanal dependió de que algún familiar lo preparara (p= 0,04). La causa principal de omisión del desayuno fue la falta de tiempo. El 23% de los alumnos de 6°-7° grado manifestaron sentir malestar al desayunar. Más del 50% de los niños miraban televisión mientras desayunaban. La mayoría de los alumnos de 1° a 3er grado consumieron un desayuno de mejorable (41%) e insufciente calidad (41%). En los alumnos de 4° y 5° grado predominó el de insufciente calidad (50%). En el grupo de 6° y 7° grado fue notable el consumo de desayuno de mala calidad (16%). En muy pocos niños la colación resultó apropiada para completar la calidad fnal del desayuno. Conclusiones. Si bien se encontró un alto porcentaje de escolares que tienen el hábito de desayunar, la mayoría lo hacen de forma incompleta. Muy pocos logran completar la calidad del desayuno con los alimentos ingeridos a media mañana.

Introduction. Breakfast provides the necessary energy and nutrients to achieve an optimal physical and mental performance. Objective. To fnd out breakfast frequency, factors that influence breakfast habit and skipping, breakfast quality and snack intake in children from public schools in the city of Santa Fe. Population and Methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. A total of 637 students were assessed using a closed-ended question survey. Results. Seventy fve percent of children had breakfast on a daily basis; only 1.6% had a good quality breakfast. Eating breakfast every day or some days did not depend on having the company of a family member. In the case of frst to ffth grade children, the weekly frequency depended on having a family member who made it (p= 0.04). The main cause for skipping breakfast was lack of time. Twenty-three percent of children in sixth and seventh grade indicated feeling unwell when having breakfast. More than 50% of children watched television while having breakfast. Most students in frst to third grade had breakfast that could be improved (41%) and which was insufficient (41%). An insufficient quality breakfast was more common among fourth and ffth grade students (50%). A remarkable piece of information is the number of sixth and seventh grade children who had a poor quality breakfast (16%). Very few children had a snack that was appropriate to supplement the fnal quality of breakfast. Conclusions. Although a high percentage of school-aged children are used to having breakfast, most have an incomplete breakfast. Very few manage to supplement their breakfast with snacks at mid-morning.

Hábito y calidad del desayuno en alumnos de dos escuelas primarias públicas de la ciudad de Santa Fe / Breakfast habit and quality in students from two public primary schools in the city of Santa Fe

Introducción. El desayuno proporciona la energía y los nutrientes necesarios que permiten un óptimo rendimiento físico e intelectual. Objetivo. Conocer la frecuencia del desayuno, los factores que condicionan el hábito y su omisión, la calidad del desayuno y la colación en los niños de escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Santa Fe. Población y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Se evaluaron 637 alumnos mediante una encuesta estructurada de respuestas cerradas. Resultados El 75% de los niños desayunaban diariamente; solo 1,6% realizaban un desayuno de buena calidad. Consumir el desayuno todos los días o a veces no dependía de la compañía de un familiar. De 1°a 5° grado la frecuencia semanal dependió de que algún familiar lo preparara (p= 0,04). La causa principal de omisión del desayuno fue la falta de tiempo. El 23% de los alumnos de 6°-7° grado manifestaron sentir malestar al desayunar. Más del 50% de los niños miraban televisión mientras desayunaban. La mayoría de los alumnos de 1° a 3er grado consumieron un desayuno de mejorable (41%) e insufciente calidad (41%). En los alumnos de 4° y 5° grado predominó el de insufciente calidad (50%). En el grupo de 6° y 7° grado fue notable el consumo de desayuno de mala calidad (16%). En muy pocos niños la colación resultó apropiada para completar la calidad fnal del desayuno. Conclusiones. Si bien se encontró un alto porcentaje de escolares que tienen el hábito de desayunar, la mayoría lo hacen de forma incompleta. Muy pocos logran completar la calidad del desayuno con los alimentos ingeridos a media mañana.(AU)

Introduction. Breakfast provides the necessary energy and nutrients to achieve an optimal physical and mental performance. Objective. To fnd out breakfast frequency, factors that influence breakfast habit and skipping, breakfast quality and snack intake in children from public schools in the city of Santa Fe. Population and Methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. A total of 637 students were assessed using a closed-ended question survey. Results. Seventy fve percent of children had breakfast on a daily basis; only 1.6% had a good quality breakfast. Eating breakfast every day or some days did not depend on having the company of a family member. In the case of frst to ffth grade children, the weekly frequency depended on having a family member who made it (p= 0.04). The main cause for skipping breakfast was lack of time. Twenty-three percent of children in sixth and seventh grade indicated feeling unwell when having breakfast. More than 50% of children watched television while having breakfast. Most students in frst to third grade had breakfast that could be improved (41%) and which was insufficient (41%). An insufficient quality breakfast was more common among fourth and ffth grade students (50%). A remarkable piece of information is the number of sixth and seventh grade children who had a poor quality breakfast (16%). Very few children had a snack that was appropriate to supplement the fnal quality of breakfast. Conclusions. Although a high percentage of school-aged children are used to having breakfast, most have an incomplete breakfast. Very few manage to supplement their breakfast with snacks at mid-morning.(AU)

Breakfast habit and quality in students from two public primary schools in the city of Santa Fe.

INTRODUCTION: Breakfast provides the necessary energy and nutrients to achieve an optimal physical and mental performance. OBJECTIVE. To find out breakfast frequency, factors that influence breakfast habit and skipping, breakfast quality and snack intake in children from public schools in the city of Santa Fe. POPULATION AND METHODS. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. A total of 637 students were assessed using a closed-ended question survey. RESULTS. Seventy five percent of children had breakfast on a daily basis; only 1.6% had a good quality breakfast. Eating breakfast every day or some days did not depend on having the company of a family member. In the case of first to fifth grade children, the weekly frequency depended on having a family member who made it (p= 0.04). The main cause for skipping breakfast was lack of time. Twenty-three percent of children in sixth and seventh grade indicated feeling unwell when having breakfast. More than 50% of children watched television while having breakfast. Most students in first to third grade had breakfast that could be improved (41%) and which was insufficient (41%). An insufficient quality breakfast was more common among fourth and fifth grade students (50%). A remarkable piece of information is the number of sixth and seventh grade children who had a poor quality breakfast (16%). Very few children had a snack that was appropriate to supplement the final quality of breakfast. CONCLUSIONS. Although a high percentage of school-aged children are used to having breakfast, most have an incomplete breakfast. Very few manage to supplement their breakfast with snacks at mid-morning.

Breakfast habit and quality in students from two public primary schools in the city of Santa Fe. / Breakfast habit and quality in students from two public primary schools in the city of Santa Fe.

INTRODUCTION: Breakfast provides the necessary energy and nutrients to achieve an optimal physical and mental performance. OBJECTIVE. To find out breakfast frequency, factors that influence breakfast habit and skipping, breakfast quality and snack intake in children from public schools in the city of Santa Fe. POPULATION AND METHODS. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. A total of 637 students were assessed using a closed-ended question survey. RESULTS. Seventy five percent of children had breakfast on a daily basis; only 1.6

had a good quality breakfast. Eating breakfast every day or some days did not depend on having the company of a family member. In the case of first to fifth grade children, the weekly frequency depended on having a family member who made it (p= 0.04). The main cause for skipping breakfast was lack of time. Twenty-three percent of children in sixth and seventh grade indicated feeling unwell when having breakfast. More than 50

of children watched television while having breakfast. Most students in first to third grade had breakfast that could be improved (41

) and which was insufficient (41

). An insufficient quality breakfast was more common among fourth and fifth grade students (50

). A remarkable piece of information is the number of sixth and seventh grade children who had a poor quality breakfast (16

). Very few children had a snack that was appropriate to supplement the final quality of breakfast. CONCLUSIONS. Although a high percentage of school-aged children are used to having breakfast, most have an incomplete breakfast. Very few manage to supplement their breakfast with snacks at mid-morning.