Efecto de una intervención nutricional en el consumo de alimentos en escolares de educación básica de Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México

• Published in: Archivos latinoamericanos de nutrición Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 154 - 162
• Main Authors: Ríos-Reyna, Candelaria, Castillo-Ruíz, Octelina, Díaz-Ramírez, Glenda, Almanza-Cruz, Ocairi, Vázquez-Nava, Francisco, Alemán-Castillo, SanJuana Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 30.10.2022
• ISSN: 0004-0622; 2309-5806
• DOI: 10.37527/2022.72.3.001

In recent years, the consumption of ultraprocessed foods in schoolchildren has increased and this has been linked to an increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity. Objective: To calculate the size of the effect of a nutritional intervention on food consumption in basic education schoolchildren in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Materials and methods: Longitudinal study, with a sample of 309 schoolchildren from 12 public elementary schools; two groups were formed: intervention (IG) and control (CG) with a follow-up of one year. Measurements of weight, height and waist circumference were made. To evaluate the foods included in school lunch, a food registry was used before and after the intervention and they were characterized as recommended and not recommended. The effect size (ES) was calculated using the Hedges’g statistic. Results: At the end of the study in both groups, water consumption increased, however the ES was big in the IG (ES=0.84); while in the CG it was moderate (ES=0.50). In the IG, a small reduction in the consumption of processed meats was observed (p=0.004; ES=0.28), sweet cereals (p=0.001; ES=0.36) and sweetened nondairy beverages decreased (p=0.001; ES=0.49); while the CG showed a small increase in the consumption of fast food and Mexican appetizers (p=0.001; ES=0.46). Conclusions: In the IG showed a TE small decrease in consumption of processed meats, sweet cereals, and sweetened non-dairy beverages. It is necessary to design strategies that promote the consumption of recommended foods.