Analysis of nutritional status among students benefitting from "nutrition improvement program" in Xi'an, 2017-2018 / 公共卫生与预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze nutritional status among students participating in "nutrition improvement program" for the compulsory education students in Xi'an, and to provide a reference basis for student nutrition improvement. Methods Eleven districts and counties were selected. About 10% primary and junior high schools were selected from the nutrition improvement program. A total of 31,941 primary and junior high school students were selected. Height and weight were measured according to the standard methods. Results Malnutrition rate of 6~15 years old boys was 10.58% (stunting rate 2.40%, wasting rate 8.18%). Overweight and obesity rate was 14.23% and 11.22%, respectively. Malnutrition rate of 6~15 years old girls was 8.56% (stunting rate 2.17%, and wasting rate 6.40%). Overweight and obesity rate was 10.43% and 7.56%, respectively. The nutritional status of students in different gender, school period, feeding pattern and school location was analyzed. The malnutrition rate was higher in boys than in girls (10.58% vs 8.56%) (P<0.05). The combined obesity-overweight rate was higher in boys than girls (25.45% vs 17.99%) (P<0.05). The combined obesity-overweight rate was higher in 6~12 aged students than in 13-15 aged (22.82% vs 16.06%) (P<0.05). The combined obesity-overweight rate was higher (26.10%) (P<0.05) in the schools located in urban areas. The rate of malnutrition among students in the school-based cafeteria was higher (10.93%) (P<0.05), while the rate of overweight and obesity was higher in the students with meals supplied by the food suppling enterprise (25.18%) (P<0.05). Conclusions The malnutrition and overweight and obesity both existed in students who benefitted from the nutrition improvement program. Attention should be paid to the malnutrition of boys and county schools, the overweight and obesity of boys, 6-12 years old students, and urban students. It is suggested that while implementing the nutrition improvement plan, the nutrition health education in students should be strengthened to avoid an increase of overweight and obesity rate.