Alteraciones nutricionales en escolares de 6 a 12 años de edad en América Latina

Abstract

Introduction: School-age is a stage of growth and development, where nutrition plays an important role; children need nutrients that cover the nutritional requirements of the organism, as well as, the daily energy expenditure. A deficient diet in quantity, quality, and unbalanced places the child in a situation of vulnerability to present nutritional alterations and consequent morbidity in adulthood, thus decreasing the quality of life of the individual. Objective: To determine which nutritional alterations occur at school age, associated factors, nutritional assessment methods, therapeutic approach, and nursing intervention in Latin America. Methodology: A literature review was made of documents published in scientific databases during the last five years in both Spanish and English, related to nutritional problems school children have. Results: From the review of articles, malnutrition, overweight, and obesity were identified as the main nutritional disorders; socioeconomic, environmental, and sociodemographic factors are associated with these pathologies. As a method of nutritional evaluation, the WHO proposes BMI in children from two years of age; assessment, diagnosis, and interventions (promotion, prevention, rehabilitation, and control) in the child, family and community are part of the therapeutic approach and nursing intervention. Conclusion: Timely diagnosis, adequate treatment, and intervention aimed at correcting nutritional alterations in children, in their home, school, and community environment allow the control and reduction of school children with nutritional problems, improving their quality of life. Keywords: school children, nutrition, malnutrition, undernutrition, overweight, obesity