Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study

Background: In Russian schools, children are provided with meals, and certain categories of students get free meals. However, not all school students eat regularly.Objective: Our aim was to study the role of school meals in physical development of children and adolescents.Methods: The survey of scho...

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Main Authors: Igor J. Esaulenko, Tatiana L. Nastausheva, Olga A. Zhdanova, Olga V. Minakova, Iya I. Logvinova, Ludmila I. Ippolitova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: "Paediatrician" Publishers LLC 2016-09-01
Series:Вопросы современной педиатрии
Subjects:
Online Access:https://vsp.spr-journal.ru/jour/article/view/1654
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author Igor J. Esaulenko
Tatiana L. Nastausheva
Olga A. Zhdanova
Olga V. Minakova
Iya I. Logvinova
Ludmila I. Ippolitova
author_facet Igor J. Esaulenko
Tatiana L. Nastausheva
Olga A. Zhdanova
Olga V. Minakova
Iya I. Logvinova
Ludmila I. Ippolitova
author_sort Igor J. Esaulenko
collection DOAJ
description Background: In Russian schools, children are provided with meals, and certain categories of students get free meals. However, not all school students eat regularly.Objective: Our aim was to study the role of school meals in physical development of children and adolescents.Methods: The survey of schoolchildren aged 8–18 years (Voronezh) revealed two groups of students who eat at school regularly (Group 1) and on occasions (Group 2). We calculated Z scores of body length and body mass index (BMI) using ANTHROPlus software. Nutritional status was determined based on the values of standard BMI deviations ( +2, +2 to +1, -1 to -2, -2). Health groups were formed according to the Children Health Comprehensive Assessment Instruction.Results: 484 schoolchildren (students of grades 3–11) were examined. 251 (52%) school students had regular meals at school. Regular meal frequency decreased from 69% in the group of 8–10 year old students to 30% in the group of 15–18-year-olds. Z scores of body length in students of Groups 1 and 2 did not differ (0.44 ± 1.00 and 0.30 ± 1.00, respectively; p = 0.124). At the same time, children in Group 1 had higher Z scores of BMI (0.44 ± 1.30 and 0.12 ± 1.30, respectively; p = 0.007). In Group 1, the incidence of overweight and obesity decreased from 40% in group of 8–10 year old students to 15% in 15–18-year-olds, in Group 2 — from 35 to 18%, respectively; incidence of malnutrition increased from 9 to 24% in Group 1 and from 11 to 15% in Group 2. In Group 1, the number of students with health group III or IV was smaller (30% compared to 42% in the control group; p = 0.005).Conclusion: Regular meals at school are an important, but not critical factor in the physical development of children. The absence of regular meals at school may be a risk factor for chronic diseases in schoolchildren.
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spelling doaj.art-951eee9d4de244c9971a7556bb92275d2023-09-03T12:58:10Zeng"Paediatrician" Publishers LLCВопросы современной педиатрии1682-55271682-55352016-09-0115436437010.15690/vsp.v15i4.15871615Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort StudyIgor J. Esaulenko0Tatiana L. Nastausheva1Olga A. Zhdanova2Olga V. Minakova3Iya I. Logvinova4Ludmila I. Ippolitova5Воронежский государственный медицинский университет им. Н.Н. Бурденко, Воронеж, Российская ФедерацияВоронежский государственный медицинский университет им. Н.Н. Бурденко, Воронеж, Российская ФедерацияВоронежский государственный медицинский университет им. Н.Н. Бурденко, Воронеж, Российская ФедерацияВоронежский государственный архитектурно-строительный университет, Воронеж, Российская ФедерацияВоронежский государственный медицинский университет им. Н.Н. Бурденко, Воронеж, Российская ФедерацияВоронежский государственный медицинский университет им. Н.Н. Бурденко, Воронеж, Российская ФедерацияBackground: In Russian schools, children are provided with meals, and certain categories of students get free meals. However, not all school students eat regularly.Objective: Our aim was to study the role of school meals in physical development of children and adolescents.Methods: The survey of schoolchildren aged 8–18 years (Voronezh) revealed two groups of students who eat at school regularly (Group 1) and on occasions (Group 2). We calculated Z scores of body length and body mass index (BMI) using ANTHROPlus software. Nutritional status was determined based on the values of standard BMI deviations ( +2, +2 to +1, -1 to -2, -2). Health groups were formed according to the Children Health Comprehensive Assessment Instruction.Results: 484 schoolchildren (students of grades 3–11) were examined. 251 (52%) school students had regular meals at school. Regular meal frequency decreased from 69% in the group of 8–10 year old students to 30% in the group of 15–18-year-olds. Z scores of body length in students of Groups 1 and 2 did not differ (0.44 ± 1.00 and 0.30 ± 1.00, respectively; p = 0.124). At the same time, children in Group 1 had higher Z scores of BMI (0.44 ± 1.30 and 0.12 ± 1.30, respectively; p = 0.007). In Group 1, the incidence of overweight and obesity decreased from 40% in group of 8–10 year old students to 15% in 15–18-year-olds, in Group 2 — from 35 to 18%, respectively; incidence of malnutrition increased from 9 to 24% in Group 1 and from 11 to 15% in Group 2. In Group 1, the number of students with health group III or IV was smaller (30% compared to 42% in the control group; p = 0.005).Conclusion: Regular meals at school are an important, but not critical factor in the physical development of children. The absence of regular meals at school may be a risk factor for chronic diseases in schoolchildren.https://vsp.spr-journal.ru/jour/article/view/1654длина телаиндекс массы телашкольникигруппы здоровьяпитание
spellingShingle Igor J. Esaulenko
Tatiana L. Nastausheva
Olga A. Zhdanova
Olga V. Minakova
Iya I. Logvinova
Ludmila I. Ippolitova
Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study
Вопросы современной педиатрии
длина тела
индекс массы тела
школьники
группы здоровья
питание
title Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study
title_full Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study
title_fullStr Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study
title_full_unstemmed Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study
title_short Regular Meals at School as a Factor of Physical Development of Children and Adolescents: Results of a Cohort Study
title_sort regular meals at school as a factor of physical development of children and adolescents results of a cohort study
topic длина тела
индекс массы тела
школьники
группы здоровья
питание
url https://vsp.spr-journal.ru/jour/article/view/1654
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