Nutritional evaluation of children between 0 and 5 years at the Dr. J Symon Ojeda Health Care Centre, Conchali, Santiago, 1996-2000

Abstract

During the last few years studies have revealed an increasing problem of overweight and obese children at all ages. We studied the nutritional status of children between 1 and 5 years old, followed-up from birth. This retrospective study of 1,088 children registered at an outpatient clinic in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago between 1996 and 2000. The data was collected from medical and nursing records.

Results: 46.2% were boys, the average birth weight was 3 355 gm and a birth height of 49.8cm, with no differences between sexes. The percentage of underweight children was 2.7% at 1 year, decreasing to 0% at 5 years. Children at risk of being under weight were 11.6% at 1 year, decreasing to 7.5% at 5 years. Between 65% and 78% of underweight children were also short for their age. The percentage of overweight children increased from 12.7% at 1 year to 16.8% at 5 years, and obese children from 2.7% to 11% respectively. Although both under and overweight children were observed in children of all ages and both sexes, the percent of underweight boys was higher at all ages, reaching significance at 2 and 5 years. The percentage of overweight boys is highest at 1 year, reaching significance at 3 years. The percentage of children with short stature is 20.7% at 1 year decreasing to 16.9% at 5 years. Although the proportion of boys with short stature is higher than in girls, only at 1 year was this statistically significant.

Conclusions: In the group studied there were children with nutritional problems both of under and overweight.