Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius
The purpose of the study was to explore the dietary intake, fruit, vegetable and energy intake and lifestyle behaviors among Mauritian children. A validated questionnaire was used, assessing dietary intake, mean energy intake, mean body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviors as well as nutritional kn...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2018-02-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844017309568 |
| _version_ | 1819241966190198784 |
|---|---|
| author | Digvijayini Bundhun Sillma Rampadarath Daneshwar Puchooa Rajesh Jeewon |
| author_facet | Digvijayini Bundhun Sillma Rampadarath Daneshwar Puchooa Rajesh Jeewon |
| author_sort | Digvijayini Bundhun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of the study was to explore the dietary intake, fruit, vegetable and energy intake and lifestyle behaviors among Mauritian children. A validated questionnaire was used, assessing dietary intake, mean energy intake, mean body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviors as well as nutritional knowledge (NK) among males and females. 336 children aged 6–12 years (165 males and 171 females) from 8 public primary schools were recruited. Statistical analyses revealed that children consumed less nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains and more of refined and calorie-laden foods, with no significant differences across genders. Mean energy intake of children was 1522 ± 282.4 kcal per day while mean BMI was 17.5 ± 4.03 kg/m2. Majority of children had a low-to-moderate physical activity level (PAL), with males being more active than females on average (P = 0.021). 88.7% of children watched TV for more than an hour daily, with 84.8% of them reporting to be eating during the process. Females were more likely to be breakfast skippers (P = 0.003). Maximum frequency of snacking was twice daily (72.7%) while consumption of fast food was once or twice weekly (44.0%). Results indicate the need for intervention with aim of improving the dietary and life quality of children in Mauritius. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:32:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-840d57a919624f94a294fab12775d399 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:32:18Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-840d57a919624f94a294fab12775d3992022-12-21T17:43:28ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402018-02-014210.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00546Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in MauritiusDigvijayini Bundhun0Sillma Rampadarath1Daneshwar Puchooa2Rajesh Jeewon3Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, MauritiusFaculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, MauritiusFaculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, MauritiusDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, MauritiusThe purpose of the study was to explore the dietary intake, fruit, vegetable and energy intake and lifestyle behaviors among Mauritian children. A validated questionnaire was used, assessing dietary intake, mean energy intake, mean body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviors as well as nutritional knowledge (NK) among males and females. 336 children aged 6–12 years (165 males and 171 females) from 8 public primary schools were recruited. Statistical analyses revealed that children consumed less nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains and more of refined and calorie-laden foods, with no significant differences across genders. Mean energy intake of children was 1522 ± 282.4 kcal per day while mean BMI was 17.5 ± 4.03 kg/m2. Majority of children had a low-to-moderate physical activity level (PAL), with males being more active than females on average (P = 0.021). 88.7% of children watched TV for more than an hour daily, with 84.8% of them reporting to be eating during the process. Females were more likely to be breakfast skippers (P = 0.003). Maximum frequency of snacking was twice daily (72.7%) while consumption of fast food was once or twice weekly (44.0%). Results indicate the need for intervention with aim of improving the dietary and life quality of children in Mauritius.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844017309568Public healthNutritionFood scienceHealth sciences |
| spellingShingle | Digvijayini Bundhun Sillma Rampadarath Daneshwar Puchooa Rajesh Jeewon Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius Heliyon Public health Nutrition Food science Health sciences |
| title | Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius |
| title_full | Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius |
| title_fullStr | Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius |
| title_short | Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius |
| title_sort | dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in mauritius |
| topic | Public health Nutrition Food science Health sciences |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844017309568 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT digvijayinibundhun dietaryintakeandlifestylebehaviorsofchildreninmauritius AT sillmarampadarath dietaryintakeandlifestylebehaviorsofchildreninmauritius AT daneshwarpuchooa dietaryintakeandlifestylebehaviorsofchildreninmauritius AT rajeshjeewon dietaryintakeandlifestylebehaviorsofchildreninmauritius |