Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

[Differences between the nutritional status of children in public preschools and nutritional transition]

L V Guimarães1, M B Barros

  • 1Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá MT, Brazil.

Jornal De Pediatria
|December 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Nutritional status varies among preschool children, with distinct patterns observed between genders and school locations. Obesity prevalence is high, even in non-downtown areas, necessitating tailored public health interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Public Health
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Nutritional status is crucial for preschool children's development.
  • Understanding variations in nutritional status can inform targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify distinct nutritional status patterns in preschool children.
  • To determine if these patterns require specific interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 1,200 children in public preschools.
  • Analysis of z-score indices (height/age, weight/age, weight/height).
  • Evaluation based on age, sex, school type, and location.

Main Results:

  • Anthropometric indices were comparable to the NCHS reference population.
  • Males exhibited lower indices than females.
  • Significant differences in indices were found between schools, with non-downtown areas showing more deficits and downtown areas more obesity.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct nutritional patterns exist within subgroups of preschool children, even in small, homogeneous populations.
  • The high prevalence of obesity, surpassing malnutrition even in disadvantaged areas, highlights the need for differentiated public health strategies.

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...