Characteristics of the diet of school-age children and the incidence of gastrointestinal pathology

• Published in: Zdorovʹe rebenka Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 338 - 343
• Main Authors: Sorokman, T.V., Moldovan, P.M., Makarova, O.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zaslavsky O.Yu 05.01.2022
• Subjects: school-age children, nutrition, pathology of the gastrointestinal tract
• ISSN: 2224-0551; 2307-1168
• DOI: 10.22141/2224-0551.16.5.2021.239712

Background. It is known that malnutrition significantly affects human life expectancy and leads to the emergence and development of non-communicable diseases. A balanced diet is a leading factor in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. The purpose was to investigate the state of actual nutrition, indicators of nutritional status and gastrointestinal morbidity in school-age children. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of secondary schools in Chernivtsi and MNPE “Chernivtsi Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital”. A questionnaire method was used with the compilation of individual menus and subsequent analysis of the chemical composition of diets in 162 students. Depending on the state of health, children were divided into groups: I (n = 90) — those with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, II (n = 44) — with functional gastrointestinal disorders, III (n = 28) — individuals without gastrointestinal pathology. Results. Chronic gastrointestinal pathology was diagnosed in 55.5 % of the examined children, functional gastrointestinal diseases — in 27.2 %. The most common chronic pathology is chronic gastroduodenitis. The majority of the surveyed children did not follow the diet, namely 56.5 % of children violated the frequency of intake, 69.2 % did not adhere to the intervals between meals. Most of patients (59.2 %) eat 3–5 times a day, 29.1 % of them eat 3–4 times a day, 30.1 % eat 4–5 times, and 11.7 % less than three times a day. One third of children do not have breakfast at home, and 19.5 % do not have a second breakfast at school. The caloric value of daily diets is lower than the normative indicators, it averages 2,337.64 ± 65.16 kcal and is insufficiently provided by the main components: proteins by 12 %, fats by 25 % and carbohydrates by 63 %. Macro- and micronutrient deficiency is also registered in 53.1 % of children, especially of calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and iodine. Children of groups II and III are less likely to eat fast food compared to those of group I (34.1 and 32.1 vs. 53.3 %, p < 0.05). Conclusions. The diet and nutrition of school-age children with gastrointestinal pathology does not meet hygienic requirements and not only does not provide primary prevention of non-communicable diseases, but, on the contrary, is a risk factor for the latter.