Abstract
The nutritional status and its association with the eating habits of schoolchildren enrolled in public schools of Campina Grande in the State of Paraíba was evaluated. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1081 children aged between 5 and10. Height/age (H/A) and body mass index/age (BMI/A) anthropometric indexes, as well as the eating habits of schoolchildren were analyzed. A prevalence of stunting, overweight and obesity of 2.4%, 12.3% and 9.2%, respectively, was found. The H/A z-score revealed lower averages (p = 0.029) in children who reported almost never eating breakfast (-0.130 ± 1.053 z-score) compared to children who eat this meal every day or almost every day (0.183 ± 0.912 z-score); a similar association was observed when school meals were not eaten (p = 0.001). For the BMI/A, it was observed that children who have all meals had a lower average z-score (p = 0.034); similar results were observed in relation to the habit of eating breakfast, where a lower average value was found among children who reported this habit (p = 0.029). The nutritional status of schoolchildren is marked by high rates of overweight/obesity. This would suggest that losses in the nutritional status are related to failure to have breakfast and eat school meals.
Nutritional status; Eating habits; Children
