Estado nutricional de los estudiantes de Educación General Básica de la Unidad Educativa Santa Marianita de Borrero, Azogues – Ecuador, 2024.

Abstract

Childhood and adolescence are fundamental stages for health, where adequate nutrition plays a key role. In developing countries, malnutrition remains a persistent issue, while overweight and obesity have emerged as global pandemics, primarily due to inadequate nutrition. Assessing nutritional status is essential to prevent long-term negative outcomes and enhance the academic and personal development of young people. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of students of general basic education at “Santa Marianita de Borrero” School, Azogues, Ecuador, in 2024. Methodology: A non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted with a population of 179 students. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements, and data were analyzed using Excel and WHO Anthro Plus, version 1.0.4. Results: One hundred and fifty-one (151) students participated, 46.3% female and 53.7% male—55.7% resided in rural areas and 44.3% in urban areas. Regarding nutritional status, 43% had a healthy weight, 30.5% were at risk of being overweight, 14.7% were overweight, and 3.3% were obese. Regarding nutritional deficiencies, 7% were at risk of malnutrition, 0.7% had severe malnutrition, and no cases of moderate malnutrition were reported. Conclusions: Most students have a healthy weight. However, there are nutritional inequalities based on age and gender, highlighting the need to establish strategies to promote healthy eating habits and improve the overall well-being of students. Keywords: nutritional status, body mass index, malnutrition, sociodemographic factor