Diagnóstico de la situación alimentaria y nutricional de niños de tercero a quinto año básico de la comuna de la reina, Santiago de Chile

Abstract

This article describes the nutritional status, food consumption, dietary behavior and culinary skills of third to fifth grade public school students from the La Reina neighborhood, Santiago de Chile, in order to propose healthy eating interventions. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study in 617 children (349 males and 268 females) from third (n= 193), fourth (n= 202) and fifth grade (n= 222). Obesity prevalence was 30.3%, greater than the 24.2% reported by National Board of Scholarships and Grants in first grade in 2015. Most of the children reported liking cooking (66.2%), but just 20.0% cooked mixed or seasoned vegetables, made sandwiches, or peeled or cut 4 or 5 days per week. All children (100%) ate a late snack in the afternoon, but only 60.9% ate dinner at night. A second breakfast was eaten by 20.7% of the children and a second lunch by 35.7%. Almost all children (97%) brought money or a snack from home: 78.4% brought candies, 60.0% fruit, 50.0% dairy products and 48.4% soft drinks or juices with sugar, and 45.0% money (500 to 1000 Chilean pesos). It is necessary to educate children in healthy eating habits, with participation of parents and support from the Ministry of Education to prevent children obesity.