Dietary patterns of secondary-school students at Grade VII and Grade X

Objective: To study dietary patterns of secondary-school students at Grade VII and Grade X. Methods: Students both male and female at Grade VII and Grade X were taught about food exchange lists. Then the investigators asked them to fill their food intakes during the past 7 days by using food frequency. Also, the investigators measured their bodyweight and heights, then classified them by BMI into 3 groups which were normal weight (group I) overweight (group II) and obese (group III). Results: The male students in normal bodyweight groups at Grade VII drank more milk than the females of the same group. The energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intakes were not different between male and female students and among the 3 groups at Grade VII. In conrast, the male students at Grade X in normal bodyweight group and overweight group had more intakes of energy, protein and fat. Also the boys of the normal bodyweight group at Grade X drank more milk. Conclusion: There were no differences in energy intakes among students of the same Grade of different BMI. Female students drank less milk than male students in the normal weight group. The male students in normal bodyweight and overweight groups at Grade X consumed more foods than the female students.

Nutritional status of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The study was conducted to determine the type and prevalence of malnutrition in 14 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Height, weight, and anthropometric indicators were measured and venous blood samples were analyzed. A three-day dietary record was made. When ideal body weights were used as cut-off points,14% were underweight and 35.5% were obese. Fourteen percents had a body mass index (BMI) < 20 kg/m2 and 21.4% had BMI > 24.9 kg/m2. Seven and 14% of them had triceps skinfold thickness or mid arm muscle area below the 5th percentile and above the 95th percentile respectively. All of the patients were anemic. Lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hypokalemia, hyperphosphatemia and hyperlipoproteinemia were present in 50%, 14%, 36%, 64% and 71% of the patients respectively. Sixty-two percent of them received >80% of their energy requirement. Protein intake was 0.97 + 0.39 gm/kg/day while protein loss was 6.5 + 1.4 gm/day into the dialysate and 0.3+ 0.04 gm/day in the urine. There were large variations in nutritional status in patients undergoing continuous peritoneal dialysis. The patients should have appropriate energy intake, taking into account the energy from glucose absorbed from the dialysate, and protein intake should be increased to cover the losses. Nutritional counseling should be made individually.

Learning of nutritional values of foods of childhood obesity during a summer camp.

During a summer camp held between March 30, 1992 - April 24, 1992, 21 obese children, 8 males and 13 females were taught about nutritional requirements, values and food exchange lists. After 3-weeks of instruction, the obese children were evaluated about these topics. Caloric values of fruits were easily remembered. Carbohydrate category ranked second after fruits. Meats category was the last to be remembered; however, eight percent of the participants could pass the test in meat category. The evaluation showed successful teaching about nutritional values of food to these children. This teaching could be the base for the next summer course.

A supplemental special burn diet for extensively burned patients.

Sixteen severely burned patients, divided into four groups according to the extent of their burns, were studied while being fed a special diet used as a supplemental nutritional support. The first group of two patients comprised those with burns covering less than 20 percent of the body surface area (BSA). The second group of six patients comprised those with burns covering 21-40 percent BSA. The third group of six patients had burns covering 41-60 percent BSA, and the fourth group of two patients had burns more than 60 percent BSA. The special diet for burn patients was given as a supplemental diet between meals or with meals to fulfil each patient’s demand for calories and protein. Enteral feeding was started as soon as the gastrointestinal function could be tolerated. We found that the special diet for burn patients raised the positive nitrogen balance in all group and kept weight loss to a minimum. For those burned extensively, particularly those with burns exceeding 40 percent BSA, some from of parenteral nutrition was needed as a secondary supplemental diet. Serum albumin gradually rose to the normal levels tended to be slightly elevated. Unfortunately, we have not been able to follow the changes in body chemistry after the patients were discharged from the hospital.