title: [CONSUMPTION OF READY-TO-EAT CEREAL IS INVERSELY ASSOCIATED WITH BODY MASS INDEX IN 6-13 YEARS OLD CHILEAN SCHOOLCHILDREN].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  childhood obesity in Chile is a serious problem with the prevalence continuing to increase over the last decade, despite all governmental efforts to diminish it. Studies indicate that the consumption of certain foods may help to control body weight. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC), body mass index and nutritional intake of macronutrients and micronutrients in school children from Santiago, Chile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the study included 1 477 children aged 6-13 years who were evaluated by trained nutritionists. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured and a 24-hour recall questionnaire was administered in which the hours spent watching TV were also recorded. Overall, 32% of boys and 28 % of girls were overweight but the difference between them was not significant. All children, regardless of sex, showed a significant inverse relationship between amounts of RTEC consumed and body mass index (BMI). Those girls that consumed higher amount of RTEC had a reduced waist circumference than those that had a lower intake. A high consumption of RTEC in all children was related to a higher intake of calories, proteins, carbohydrates, calcium and zinc and to a lower intake of calories from fat. RTEC consumption was also associated with lower risk of being overweight/obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study identifies RTEC intake as a potential indicator of a healthy diet. Controlled interventions are necessary to isolate the effect of RTEC consumption from other participating factors.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics School, Universidad Finis Terrae.. ocastillo@uft.cl.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castillo Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics School, Universidad Finis Terrae. Department of Nutrition, Diabetes and Metabolism.. liberonaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jéssica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liberona Zúñiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.. liberonaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominguez de Landa
authors.affiliation: Cereal Partners Worldwide. Nestlé Research Center, Vers chez les Blanc (Lausanne), Switzerland.. liberonaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thielecke
authors.affiliation: General Mills International.. liberonaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mondragón M
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Diabetes and Metabolism.. liberonaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rozowski Narkunska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Universidad de Chile, Chile.. liberonaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruchet Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology