RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of balanced diet on the nutrition status of primary schoolchildren in the mountain area in November 2004. METHODS: All the subjects aged 7-9 years old were divided into intervention group and control group. The balanced diet was provided for the intervention group and the control group was maintained on their usual diet for 30 days in December. The anthropometric and nutritional status of the subjects were checked before and after the study. RESULTS: The growth and nutritional status of the intervention group improved significantly. However the unbalanced diet in the control group affects the normal growth of the children because the usual diet can not meet the nutrient requirement. CONCLUSION: The nutrition intervention can improve the growth and nutritional status of the primary schoolchildren in the mountain area.