Published online Nov 6, 2016. doi: 10.5527/wjn.v5.i6.507
Peer-review started: July 1, 2016
First decision: August 5, 2016
Revised: August 31, 2016
Accepted: September 21, 2016
Article in press: September 22, 2016
Published online: November 6, 2016
Processing time: 127 Days and 3.5 Hours
To investigate the prevalence of nutritional parameters of risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and kidney diseases in healthy preschool children.
This is an observational cross-sectional study with 60 healthy children, of both genders, aged two to six years old and 56 mothers, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Preschool children and their families with regular activities at public schools were invited to paticipate in the study. The following characteristics were assessed: Socio-demographic condictions, clinical health, anthropometric, biochemical, lifestyle and data on food consumption. The 56 healthy children were divided into two groups, overweight (C1) and non-overweight (C2), as well as their mothers, respectively, in overweight (M1) and non-overweight (M2). Nutritional status was defined according to results obtained through the Anthro® Software for nutritional analysis.
Thirty-five children were male, with mean age of 4.44 ± 1.0 years old. Eighty-nine percent of them were eutrophic, 86.7% were sedentary and they had five meals a day. Body mass index (BMI) for age and total cholesterol (TC) was higher on C1 (P = 0.0001) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) was higher on C2. Mothers were 32.5 ± 7.1 years old, mostly married and employed. Eighty-six percent of them were sedentary and 62.5% were overweight with BMI = 26.38 ± 5.07 kg/m2. Eighteen percent of the overweight mothers had isolated total hypercholesterolemia (TC levels elevated) and 12.5% had low HDL-c levels. The present study showed an association between overweight and obesity during the preschool years and the correspondent mothers’ nutritional status of overweight and obesity (OR = 4.96; 95%CI: 0.558-44.17). There was a positive correlation between the food risk associated with CVD by children and mothers when their consumption was 4 times/wk (P = 0.049; r = 0.516) or daily (P = 0.000008; r = 0.892).
Analyzed children showed high rates of physical inactivity, high serum cholesterol levels and high consumption of food associated with risk for CVD and renal disease. Changes in habits should be encouraged early in kindergarten.
Core tip: This is an observational cross-sectional study with 60 healthy preschool children and 56 mothers. Children were divided in overweight and non-overweight groups, as well as their mothers. There were 35 male children, mean age 4.44 ± 1.0 years old, 89% of all children were eutrophic, 87% sedentary. Body mass index/age and total cholesterol were higher in the overweight group. Mother’s age was 32.5 ± 7.1 years old, mostly married and employed, 86% of them were sedentary, 63% overweight. There was an association between overweight and obesity during preschool years and the correspondent mothers’ nutritional status of overweight and obesity. There was a positive correlation between food risk consumption associated with cardiovascular disease by children and mothers.