Relación del estado nutricional y hábitos alimentarios en niños preescolares y escolares con retraso en el desarrollo que asisten al Centro de Desarrollo Infantil de la Universidad de Cuenca, junio-noviembre 2023

Abstract

The relationship between nutritional status and eating habits in preschool and school-aged children with developmental delay has been a growing topic of interest. Previous research highlights the crucial influence of diet on children's physical and intellectual development, emphasizing the need to understand this relationship in order to implement effective interventions in education, health and nutrition. This study, conducted between June and November 2023 at the University of Cuenca's Child Development Center, included a sample of 57 children with global developmental delay. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive approach, data on sex, age, nutritional diagnosis, and knowledge, attitudes and practices related to food were analyzed. The results showed that 70.18% of the children had normal nutritional status, but cases of malnutrition (17.54%), overweight (8.77%) and obesity (3.51%) were also observed. It was found that 15% of boys and 20% of girls with malnutrition had regular knowledge, while 43% of boys and 10% of girls with malnutrition had poor knowledge. In addition, 75% of boys and 40% of girls with normal weight had regular knowledge of eating habits, but 43% of boys and 80% of girls had poor knowledge. These findings emphasize the importance of intervening in food education to improve the nutritional status and eating habits of children with developmental delay