Jornal de Obesidade e Terapia para Perda de Peso

Abstrato

Changes on Determinants of Feeding Behavior after a Summer Workshop “Jugando a Ganar Salud” in Mexican Children from Low Socioeconomic Status

Vergara A, Chaires C, Moreno LI and Pérez-Lizaur AB

Background: Feeding habits; selection of foods, culinary preparations and amounts of food eaten and this mode of feeding is influenced significantly by family, friends, school and media in children. Despite several studies have shown benefits of alimentary orientation there is little evidence that dietary habits persist after an nutrition education intervention. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a two-years follow up summer workshop on the nutrition knowledge, availability, preference and self-efficacy in a group of Mexican school aged children from lower socioeconomic status. Design: In this cohort study, anthropometrics and determinants of feeding behavior evaluations were performed onschool-aged children after a two years follow up summer workshop. Subject: 14 school-aged children (7 boys and 7 girls) registered in a summer workshop implemented in a low socioeconomic status area in México City during a two-years follow-up. Children were asked to complete a questionnaire to measure dimensions of eating behavior focused on four components: knowledge, preferences, food availability and self-efficacy, asking about fruit and vegetables consumption as well as feeding schedule. Also, anthropometrics were obtained and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WTHR) were calculated. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics, X2 tests, Friedman and Wilcoxon analysis were performed. Continuous variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation, categorical variables as percentages. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: It was observed a 14.31% in the prevalence of children with cardiovascular risk, defined using waist-toheight ratio (p=0.308). In relation of the determinants an improvement in the knowledge (p<0.001) and self-efficacy, which were sustained over time (p<0.001) Preferences and availability remained without changes. It was observed a trend of improvement for all feeding behavior determinants higher in girls compared with boys. Conclusions. In a sample of Mexican children of low socioeconomic status who attended a summer workshop, the changes of knowledge and self-efficacy, considered as determinants of feeding behavior are maintained over time, after a two years follow-up.