Raciones de desayuno y almuerzo entregadas a preescolares por el Programa de Alimentación Escolar (PAE): calorías aportadas y consumidas / National School Food Program: calories provided and consumed by preschool children for breakfast and lunch

Chile's School Feeding Program delivers approximately 215,000 and 1.3 million breakfast and lunch trays daily to preschool and school children attending public schools. In 2011 we carried out a study with the objective to determine Kcal provided and consumed from breakfast and lunch trays respectively, acceptance" of the preparations and assess if there was an association between K cal consumed and nutritional status. The sample included 199 5 y old children from 6 schools located in 3 low income districts of Santiago (2 per district). K cal consumed was determined by the difference in weight of each preparation from 429 and 1491 breakfast and lunch trays, respectively. Almost 50% of the children were overweight. 10.8% and 30% of the breakfast and lunch trays respectively provided less K cal than indicated, while in 50% of them, there was an excess. In 22.5% of breakfast and lunch trays added together, consumption exceeded the amount indicated. The correlation between consumption of the preparation and acceptance was good. Salads showed low acceptability. No relation was found between K cal consumed and nutritional status. This program should include a revision of the combination of food preparations and their correct portioning as a means of addressing the high prevalence of childhood obesity.

El Programa de Alimentación Escolar de Chile (PAE) entrega diariamente 215.000 raciones de desayuno y almuerzo a preescolares y 1.3 millones a escolares de escuelas públicas y subvencionadas del país. El año 2011 efectuamos un estudio cuyo objetivo fue determinar las Kcal aportadas y consumidas en el desayuno y almuerzo, determinar si las preparaciones les gustaban a los niños y verificar si habría una relación entre Kcal consumidas y estado nutricional. La muestra incluyó a 199 niños de 5 años de 6 escuelas de 3 comunas (2 por comuna) de nivel bajo de Santiago. Se determinaron las K cal consumidas por la técnica de pesaje por diferencia en 429 y 1491 bandejas de desayuno y almuerzo respectivamente. Cerca del 50% de los niños tenía sobrepeso. En 10,8% y 30% de las bandejas de desayuno y almuerzo respectivamente el aporte calórico fue inferior a lo indicado; en 50% fue superior. En 22,5 % de las bandejas de ambos servicios, el consumo fue superior a lo establecido. Hubo una buena correlación entre consumo de la preparación y si les gustó. Las ensaladas mostraron baja aceptabilidad. No hubo relación entre estado nutricional y el consumo de calorías. Frente a la alta prevalencia de obesidad, se recomienda revisar la combinación de preparaciones y el porcionamiento de éstas.

Colaciones habitualmente consumidas por niños de escuelas municipalizadas: motivaciones para su elección / Snacks usually consumed by children from public schools: motivations for their selection

As part of a school-based intervention to prevent obesity in 7 public schools located in Chile, we carried out a study to determine the children's preferences related to the types of foods purchased at the school kiosk in two of those schools. We interviewed 668, 10-13 years old children (53.1 percent boys) and in addition to the types of foods purchased, we assessed the foods brought from home. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out. Sixty percent of the children had money to buy snacks; they mostly bought sweet snacks (35 percent), juice and ice cream (33 percent) and salty snacks (30 percent). Eleven percent of the children bought yogurt and 7 percent fruit. Children indicated as motivations to buy high energy snacks: were tasty (82 percent), sold at the kiosk (46 percent) and are cheap (38 percent). It is important to increase the supply of healthy snacks and to develop strategies to motivate schoolchildren to prefer them.

Se estudiaron las preferencias de compra de alimentos en el kiosco en escolares de 2 colegios de Chile. Se encuestaron 668 niños entre 10 y 13 años, 355 (53.1 por ciento) de sexo masculino, sobre los alimentos que llevaban de colación, los que compraban con su dinero y las motivaciones para la compra de alimentos. Los datos fueron analizados en forma descriptiva en la Unidad de Estadística del Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA). El 60 por ciento de los niños disponía de dinero para comprar alimentos y los que compraban habitualmente eran productos envasados dulces (35 por ciento), jugos y helados (33 por ciento) y productos envasados salados (30 por ciento). El 11 por ciento compraba yogur y el 7 por ciento fruta. Los niños señalaron como motivaciones para comer alimentos no saludables: son ricos (82 por ciento), los venden en el kiosco (46 por ciento) y son baratos (38 por ciento). Esto significa que es necesario aumentar la oferta y generar estrategias que motiven a los niños a preferir alimentos saludables dentro de los recintos educacionales.

Etapas del cambio, beneficios y barreras en actividad física y consumo de frutas y verduras en estudiantes universitarios de Santiago de Chile / Stages of change, benefits and barriers on physical activity and fruit and vegetables intake in Chilean university students

As baseline for health promotion and education interventions design, the stages of change, benefits and barriers in physical activity and fruit and vegetables intake were studied in 449 university students from Santiago. Instruments internationally validated and adapted to the country were applied. In physical activity, men were significant more active than women. Benefits like «I feel well¼ o «it is entertaining¼ were more common in men and «to loose weight¼ was most common in women. Lack of time was the main barrier in both genders. 58% ate 1-2 portions of fruit and vegetables/daily and only 5% ate 5 portions daily. The main benefit associated with fruit and vegetables intake was «to be healthy¼. Women were more motivated. «I am lazy for preparing them¼ or «I forget to eat them¼ were the most common barriers in both genders. These results will be useful in health promotion and education interventions with university students.

Como línea base para diseñar intervenciones de promoción y educación, se determinaron las etapas del cambio, beneficios y barreras relacionados con la actividad física y el consumo de frutas y verduras en 449 estudiantes universitarios de ambos géneros de Santiago. Se utilizaron instrumentos validados internacionalmente y adaptados en el país. En actividad física, los hombres resultaron significativamente más activos que las mujeres. Los beneficios más destacados por ellos fueron "me hace sentir bien" o "me entretiene", en tanto el primero y "perder peso" fueron más frecuentes en las mujeres. En ambos géneros, la principal barrera fue la falta de tiempo. El 58% comía 1 a 2 porciones de frutas y verduras al día y sólo el 5% alcanzaba las 5 porciones. El principal beneficio de comer frutas y verduras se asoció a "estar sano/a", y las principales barreras fueron "me da flojera prepararlas" o "se me olvida comerlas", en ambos géneros. Estos resultados se utilizarán en el diseño de intervenciones en promoción y educación para estudiantes universitarios.

Estado nutricional, consumo de alimentos y actividad física en escolares mujeres de diferente nivel socioeconómico de Santiago de Chile / Nutritional status, food consumption and physical activity in female school children of different socioeconomic levels from Santiago, Chile

Background: A high prevalence of obesity is the main public health problem in Chilean school children. Aim: To compare the nutritional status, consumption of selected foods and extracurricular physical activity (PA) habits in school children of different socioeconomic levels as a baseline for developing effective educational interventions. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study that determined the body mass index, food consumption and physical activity with previously validated instruments in 202 and 358 girls from 3rd to 8th grade in schools of medium-high and low socioeconomic level (SEL) from Santiago, Chile, respectively. Results: Compared to their counterparts of low socioeconomic level (SEL), the prevalence of obesity was significantly lower in 8-9 year-old girls of medium high SEL (19 percent and 9 percent, respectively, p =0.012) and 12-13 year-old (12 percent and 2.5 percent respectively, p =0.008). Also median daily intake of dairy products was higher in girls of medium high SEL (250 and 470 ml/day, respectively). The intake of fruits and vegetables was similar (200 g/d); and the intake of bread was lower (230 and 70 g/day, respectively, p <0.01). Consumption of energy-dense foods was lower in 10-13 year-old girls of medium high SEL (80 and 50 g/day, respectively, p <0.01). 45 percent of 8-9 year-old girls and 35 percent of 12-13 year-old girls of both SEL engaged in PA four or more times per week (NS). Conclusions: Although the prevalence of obesity in girls of medium-high SEL was not as high as in those from low SEL, it is still high. There is a need for educational interventions to improve their food and PA habits and to promote an environment that enhances healthy behaviors.

Actitudes y practicas sobre alimentacion y actividad física en niños obesos y sus madres en santiago, chile / Food and physical activity attitudes and practices in obese children and their mothers in santiago, chile

In order to identify practices and attitudes on food and physical activity in obese children of a low socioeconomic level, a survey was applied to 88 school children (41 boys, 47 girls) aged 8 to 11 years of age from Santiago. Sixty eight children and their mothers participated in 16 focus groups (4 groups of boys, 4 of girls and 8 of mothers), where motivations, barriers, self-esteem and self-efficacy related to food and physical activity were studied. Survey results were analyzed with the non parametric Mann-Whitney Test. A content analysis was made with the information collected in the focus groups; it is presented in terms of children's expressions. A low dietary intake of dairy products, fruits and vegetables (g/d), and a high intake of energy dense foods and beverages were found. More than 55 percent of children never engaged in after school physical activity. Children showed limited motivations and multiple barriers related with healthy food and physical activity habits, as well as low self-esteem and self-efficacy. Their mothers showed lack of motivation and low self-efficacy in providing support to their obese children. These results will be used as baseline information for educational interventions for preventing child overweight through motivation and self-care.

Para identificar las actitudes y prácticas sobre alimentación y actividad física en niños obesos de nivel socioeconómico bajo, se aplicó una encuesta a 88 escolares (41 niños y 47 niñas) de 8 a 11 años de Santiago. 68 niños y sus madres constituyeron 16 grupos focales (4 de niños, 4 de niñas y 8 de madres) en los que se estudiaron las motivaciones, barreras, sentimientos de autoestima y autoeficacia en relación a alimentación saludable y actividad física. Los resultados de la encuesta fueron analizados con el test no paramétrico de Mann-Whitney. Con la información de los grupos focales se realizó un análisis de contenido, presentada como síntesis de las expresiones de los niños. Se encontró un bajo consumo de lácteos, verduras y frutas y un elevado consumo de alimentos de alta densidad energética y bebidas con azúcar. Más del 55 por ciento de los niños no realizaba actividad física fuera del colegio. Los niños mostraron escasas motivaciones y múltiples barreras para adquirir hábitos de alimentación saludable y actividad física, así como una baja autoestima y autoeficacia. Sus madres mostraron poca motivación y baja autoeficacia para apoyar a sus hijos obesos. Los resultados de este estudio servirán de base para el diseño de intervenciones educativas centradas en la motivación y el autocuidado para prevenir el sobrepeso en los niños.