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Assessing the anthropometric status of Hawaii's preschoolers participating in feeding programs in day care centers
Insights
Preschoolers in low-income programs showed similar physical growth and adequate nutrition. Oahu preschoolers had intermediate caloric reserves compared to mainland US children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Child Growth and Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Assessing nutritional status in preschool children is crucial for early intervention.
- Understanding the impact of feeding programs and physical activity on child development is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the physical growth and nutritional status of preschoolers in low and middle-income settings.
- To evaluate the caloric reserves of preschoolers in Oahu in comparison to mainland US populations.
Main Methods:
- Survey of preschoolers in low and middle-income settings with similar feeding programs and physical activities.
- Analysis of anthropometric measurements including arm size, muscularity, triceps skinfold, and fat area.
- Comparison of Oahu preschoolers' data with national surveys (Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Ten-State Nutrition Survey).
Main Results:
- Similar physical growth, arm size, muscularity, triceps skinfold, and fat area were observed between the two groups of children.
- Oahu preschoolers exhibited triceps skinfold medians intermediate between two mainland US populations.
- Oahu preschoolers' height and weight medians were lower than the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey but closer to the Ten-State Nutrition Survey's white children.
Conclusions:
- Preschoolers in the studied low and middle-income programs demonstrated adequate protein status and caloric reserves.
- Oahu preschoolers' anthropometric data suggest a nutritional status intermediate between surveyed mainland US populations.
- Findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring of child growth and nutritional status in diverse populations.
Abstract:
A survey of low and middle income preschoolers who were exposed to similar feeding programs and physical activities showed similarity of physical growth between the two groups of children. Mean values of arm size, muscularity, triceps skinfold, and fat area were similar and signified adequate protein status and caloric reserves in both groups of children. Comparison of data from preschoolers in Oahu and on the United States mainland showed that all left arm triceps skinfold medians of preschoolers in Oahu were 1) smaller than the medians recorded for right arms in the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 2) greater than the values on the 50th percentile for right arms of white children of the Ten-State Nutrition Survey, which indicated that Oahu preschoolers occupied a caloric reserve intermediate between the two mainland United States populations surveyed. Medians of heights and weights were lower than the median values of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and were closer to the 50th percentile of while children in the Ten-State Nutrition Survey.