IJERPH, Vol. 19, Pages 15728: Health Status and Nutritional Habits in Maldives Pediatric Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

IJERPH, Vol. 19, Pages 15728: Health Status and Nutritional Habits in Maldives Pediatric Population: A Cross-Sectional Study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph192315728 Authors: Emanuela Cazzaniga Antonina Orlando Annalisa Terenzio Carlotta Suardi Chiara Mognetti Francesca Gennaro Laura Antolini Paola Palestini Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the Maldives, triggered by the nutrition transition to a “Western diet” that dramatically increases the prevalence of excess weight and hypertension. Our study aimed to evaluate dietary habits, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index in Maghoodoo Public School’s students. A sample of 145 students (72 males and 73 females, age 9.37 ± 2.97 years) was enrolled. Factors causing excess weight were investigated through descriptive statistics. The relationship between blood pressure percentiles and possible influencing factors was investigated by a linear regression model.. Excess weight was present in 15.07% and 12.5% females and males, respectively. 15.18% of the subjects had elevated BP, with a significant difference according to gender detected only in the PAS z-score. Eating habits were investigated through a parent-filled questionnaire; 70.15% of the students consumed less than two portions of fruit per day, with a significant difference between ...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research