Estado nutricional de crianças matriculadas em creche de um município de pequeno porte de Goiás

Abstract

The increase in cases of childhood obesity worldwide has affected children's health, development, and growth. In this context, nutritional assessment becomes an essential tool to monitor child development and to diagnose health and nutritional risks, especially during childhood. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of children aged 1 to 4 years attending a municipal daycare center in the city of Palmelo, Goiás, through anthropometry. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study, whose sample consisted of 49 children enrolled in the municipal daycare center. After authorization from the guardians and assent from the children, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and head circumference) were taken, z-scores were calculated, and the results were interpreted according to the WHO growth curves. Subsequently, the data were categorized into age groups and statistically analyzed (mean and standard deviation). The results showed that most children presented normal nutritional status (BMI/A = 53%; W/H = 53%), adequate weight for age (W/A = 89%), and adequate head circumference (HC/A = 0.34 ± 1.26). However, cases of stunting (H/A = 12%), severe stunting (H/A = 2%), overweight (BMI/A = 12%), and risk of overweight (BMI/A = 34%) were observed. It is concluded that normal nutritional status predominated among the evaluated children aged 1 to 4 years, and that children aged 1 to 2 years showed a higher percentage of overweight (18.75%) compared to those aged 2 to 4 years (9.09%).