Effect of the ESNUT Nutrition Stabilization Program on BMI and body composition in children under eight who receive school breakfast

Abstract

Introduction. In San Luis Potosi, underweight increased (2,2% to 5,9%), coexisting with overweight (18,1%) and obesity (17,1%). Malnutrition modifies children's growth and body composition, and prevention includes school feeding programs. Objective. To evaluate the effect of the nutritional stabilization program "ESNUT" on the nutritional status and body composition of children enrolled in the cold school breakfast program. Methods. An intervention study with follow-up and an experimental and control group was carried out in four suburban public schools (preschool and first and second grade of primary school). The population was distributed into 148 women (50,6%) and 144 men (49,3%) with ages between 69 and 75 months, in the experimental group (n=153) and control (n=139) formed randomly. The intervention consisted of applying the "ESNUT" nutritional stabilization program and evaluating the effect on height, weight, body mass index, weight/age, height/age, muscle mass, and fat mass, measured with the Inbody Bioimpedancemeter 230 and the Seca 274 Statimeter. In the analysis, the t-student test was applied for independent samples and related samples (95% CI; p≤0.05) with a statistical power of 0,80, in addition, to one-way ANOVA, calculating ETA2 (post-hoc) and effect size, supported by SSPS Version 21. Results. The population had a normal nutritional status in ∼50% of the cases. Muscle mass increased, with a greater magnitude observed in the experimental group, and in the boys, fat mass was greater in girls, although with a small effect size. The obesity rate was reduced, which migrated towards overweight. Conclusions. The ESNUT intervention favored the increase in muscle mass and the reduction of obesity rate in minors. Education about healthy eating from childhood is recommended.