[Evaluation of the nutritional status of a rural child population in a Valencia community: the Pego study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the nutritional state of the child population of Pego (Alicante) in order to define the patterns of normality and check the validity of the anthropometric parameters most commonly used in evaluating nutritional status.


METHODS
A descriptive crossover study.


METHODS
Valls de Pego Primary Care Health Centre.


METHODS
943 healthy children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 were studied out of a target population of 2,150 who were seen for treatment at the Health Centre for reasons which had nothing to do with nutritional problems.


METHODS
Between july 1989 and december 1990, a simple anthropometric assessment of each patient was carried out: obtaining weight, height, the nutrition or Shukla index and the Quetelet index.


RESULTS
Nutritional distribution was clearly displaced towards high values on the nutritional scale, with 14% obesity and 15% overweight as against 13% at risk of malnutrition. There was more overweight and obesity at a higher age and in males.


CONCLUSIONS
This prevalence of nutritional disturbances is similar to that in other Spanish studies and confirms both the size of the problem of obesity in the prevention of related pathologies in adults and the relevance of the adult's Nutritional History throughout his/her life. The study made clear the good correlation and utility of the Shukla and Quetelet indexes.
Bernabeu
C
C
Centro de Salud Valls de Pego. Departamento de Pediatría de la Universidad de Alicante.
Cortés
E
E
Moya
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis; D012424:Rural Population; D013030:Spain
Valoración del estado de nutrición de una población infantil rural de la Comunidad Valenciana: estudio de Pego.