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Exploring the Multifaceted Influences on Childhood Nutritional Status: A Study Conducted in South Punjab, Pakistan

Aiman Akhtar1, Rabiya Masood2, Muhammad Ibrahim3

  • 1National Institute of Health, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, PAK.

Cureus
|August 12, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The double burden of malnutrition affects Pakistani schoolchildren, with socioeconomic status and dietary habits influencing nutritional status. Understanding these factors is crucial for targeted health interventions in Pakistan.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a growing public health issue in Pakistan, particularly among school-going children.
  • Rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles contribute to coexisting under- and over-nutrition within the same population.
  • Identifying risk factors is essential for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of underweight and overweight students in Multan, Pakistan.
  • To identify sociodemographic, dietary, and psychosocial risk factors associated with DBM in female teenage students.
  • To inform future public health strategies for addressing childhood malnutrition.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 female teenage students in Multan, Pakistan.
  • Data were collected through interviews and anthropometric measurements to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI).
  • Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS to stratify results by socioeconomic, dietary, and psychosocial factors.

Main Results:

  • Socioeconomic status, particularly parental occupation, showed a significant correlation with nutritional status.
  • Dietary habits, including fast food consumption and dairy intake, were associated with BMI.
  • Psychosocial factors like peer comments and participation in outdoor sports influenced students' nutritional status.

Conclusions:

  • A multi-faceted relationship exists between socioeconomic status, dietary habits, and BMI in Pakistani schoolchildren.
  • Interventions must consider a holistic approach addressing various determinants of malnutrition.
  • Further research is needed to develop comprehensive strategies for combating DBM in vulnerable populations.

Keywords:
bmichildrendietary habitsmultanoverweightpunjab (pakistan)socioeconomic factorsunderweight

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