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Published on: July 29, 2020
Comparison of dietary intake among overweight and non-overweight schoolchildren
A M Rocandio1, L Ansotegui, M Arroyo
1Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Objective:
To determine differences in dietary intake between overweight and non-overweight schoolchildren and differences in consumption during the day and in the course of the week.
Research Methods And Procedures:
Using a cross-sectional design, 32 schoolchildren (11-y-old) were selected at random. The parents of children recorded dietary intake for a week using the food weighing method. The children were considered to be overweight when the weight for height was higher than 90th percentile.
Results:
Some 46.9% of examined schoolchildren were considered overweight. Percentage energy intake reported was significantly lower in the overweight group compared to the non-overweight children (8948.7 vs 9590.1 kJ/day; P<0.01). Carbohydrate intake was significantly greater in the non-overweight schoolchildren (250.9+/-58.8 vs 222.1+/-77.4 g/day; P<0.01). The difference in protein intake between week and weekend days was significant (81.6+/-25.5 in the week days vs 73.9+/-21.4 g/day in the weekend days; P<0.05).
Discussion:
The data suggest the belief that overweight children eat more than non-overweight children is not correct. These findings suggest that the positive energy balance causing overweight is due possibly to a low energy output.
