Nutritional Status of Preschool Children in Low Income Urban Area: Anthropometry and Dietary Intake

Son, Sook Mee; Park, Sung Hee

Abstract

The nutritional status of 125 preschool chidren(Female : 56, Male : 69) residing in low income area of Seoul was surveyed. The mean family size was 4.3 and the mean monthly income was 921,000 won which was below the poverty level. Average heights of boys aged 3, 4, 5 and 6 were 98.6 cm, 106.1 cm, 111.9 cm and 116.0 cm and those for girls were 99.4 cm, 106.4 cm, 110.9 cm, and 116.0 cm, respectively. There was no significant difference between the height of boys and girls. The proportion of children showing stunted growth(<90% of Korean standard of height) was 3.2%. The mean weight of boys for each age group(3, 4, 5, 6) were not significantly differient from that of girls. The proposetion of children assessed as moderately underweight (<80-90% of Korean Standard of weight) was 10.4% and 3.2% of children was underweight(<80% of weight standard). The group of children aged 3 were taking adequate energy, whereas the mean energy intake of children aged 4.5 and 6 were wirthin 77.3-78.6% of RDA. The proportion of energy derived from carbohydrate, fat and protein was 60.1%, 24.6% and 15.3%. The high proportion of energy derived from fat seems partly due to high energy intake from fat in the snack. The nutrients which did not meet 75% of the RDA were vitamin A and calcium for children aged 5, and iron for children aged 3 to 5. Carbohydrate intake was positively correlated with the height, weight and girth of chest(P<0.05-P<0.001). There was positive correlation between protein intake and weight, girth of chest and BMI, respectively(P<0.05). Iron intake showed positive relationship with height, weight and BMI(P<0.05).