Nutritional behavior in Italian and immigrant children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Limited data exists on the nutritional habits of the 1.2 million immigrant children residing in Italy.
• Assessing nutritional profiles is crucial for this growing demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the nutritional status and dietary habits of immigrant and Italian children.
• To identify potential risk factors for malnutrition and obesity in immigrant children.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 86 children (aged 5-15) was studied using 24-hour dietary recalls and questionnaires.
• Nutritional profiles, food consumption frequency, eating habits, and anthropometric measurements were collected.
• Immigrant status was determined by parental origin.

Main Results:

• Immigrant children exhibited higher prevalence of overweight (27.3%) and obesity (18.2%) compared to Italian children (14.1% and 3.1%, respectively).
• Higher total calorie intake, primarily from simple carbohydrates, was observed in immigrant children.
• Increased consumption of sweets, snacks, sugary drinks, and unhealthy eating patterns (eating alone, eating while watching TV) were noted in immigrant children.

Conclusions:

• Immigrant children in this cohort present a higher risk of overweight and obesity, linked to less healthy nutritional habits.
• Targeted, culturally sensitive nutritional interventions are essential for preventing obesity and related diseases in this population.