Associations between Various Nutritional Elements and Weight, Height and BMI in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose:This cross-sectional study included 653 children aged 2–18 years located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2015–2016). This study aimed to determine the association between dietary intake (daily, weekly and rarely) and anthropometric measurements. Method: Both child and family questionnaire was given, followed by weight and height measurements. The questionnaire consisted of general demographic information, anthropometric measurements, analysis of various nutritional element of daily intake. Using one-way ANOVA test after checked all assumptions. Also, Welch test was using whiles the assumption of homogeneity of variance not satisfied by levene test. Results: Higher mean BMI in children consuming legumes daily than weekly and rarely and also higher BMI mean in children drinking milk rarely than daily and weekly. While lower mean BMI in children drinking soft drinks rarely. For children height, the means among eating proteins, vegetables and drinking milk daily have lower heights mean than weekly and rarely. Height means in children who eating and drinking daily fat, fast food, and soft drinks have higher heights mean than weekly and rarely. Weight SDs with various nutrition elements shows no significant relation. Conclusion: Different type of nutritional elements and its effect on children’s growth so further studies should be made to identify the values of the level of food intake and its benefit on the child growth.