Community diagnosis for the design of an educational intervention on the revaluation of native fruits and vegetables

Abstract

Objective: The adequacy of energy and nutrients, the body mass index (BMI) and the socioeconomic level of preschool children from a public school in Mérida, Yucatán was described. Material and Methods: The research was descriptive, cross-sectional, with a sample of 86 preschoolers. The 24-hour reminder was used to obtain the percentages of energy and nutrient adequacy; the socioeconomic level was estimated with the AMAI 8x7 survey; and the BMI, was interpreted according to WHO. Results: Adequacy percentages showed excess protein, lipids, calcium, sodium and zinc, iron and fiber deficiency. The prevalence of excess weight was 19.8%, possible risk of overweight 31.4%, normal weight 47.7% and severe wasting 1.2%. The most frequent socioeconomic level (29.1%) was C-. The normal fitness percentages were those of energy and carbohydrates. Conclusions: The prevalences of overweight and obesity were higher than national and state statistics, wasting had a lower prevalence than the national and higher than the state. Preschoolers do not have adequate percentages of energy and nutrients for their age.

 Keywords: energy adequacy, nutrients, socioeconomic level, body mass index.