Association between Dietary Diversity and Weight Status of Aboriginal Primary School Children in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the association between dietary diversity and weight status of aboriginal primary school children. Methods: Dietary diversity measures food intake diversity in food groups, whereas weight status indicates nutritional status. Dietary serving score (DSS) method was used to determine dietary diversity status, while weight status was assessed using BMI-for-Age (BAZ). Results: Results reported that 51.9% and 54.2% were male and 10 years old-12 years old children, respectively. A total of 36.4% of children consumed cereal/grains diversely while fruits were not diversely consumed by 96.4% of them. Approximately 60.8% of children were reported to have normal weight status, which was followed by overweight (17.7%), obese (16.7%) and thinness to severe-thinness (4.8%). There was an association between DSS of fruits, meat/fish/ eggs, legumes/lentils and milk/dairy products with age group, vegetables DSS with gender and BAZ with parental employment status (P < 0.05). The association between DSS of all food groups and total with BAZ were reported to be insignificant, indicating no association between both variables (0.00 < r < 0.30; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Children from this study were shown to practice a monotonous diet, although the majority of them were within normal weight status.

Relationship between Family Factors, Food Consumption Behaviors, and Nutritional Status among Muslim School-Age Students in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand

“…This finding was consistent with the Department of Health and previous statistics, indicating a similar number of school-age children with overnutrition status [5,24]. In contrast, the percentages of school-age children overweight and obese in Muslim countries, including Malaysia, Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates, were twice as high compared to Muslim schoolage children in the Thasala District [25][26][27]. The primary cause of overnutrition status in Muslim school-age children appeared to be their dietary behavior, as they consumed unhealthy foods rather than nutrient-rich foods.…”

“…Additionally, school-age children in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province frequently consumed fried foods such as sausages and fried meatballs more than four times a week, which increased their risk of excess nutritional status [24]. In Malaysia, school-age children who were overweight or obese had reported frequent consumption of high-energy foods and lacked variety in their diets [25]. In Palestine and the United Arab Emirates, overweight and obese school-age children also consume more snacks and fast food [26,27].…”