TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of malnutrition in Spanish schoolchildren JO - Anales de Pediatría (English Edition) T2 - AU - Pérez-Ríos,Mónica AU - Santiago-Pérez,María Isolina AU - Leis,Rosaura AU - Malvar,Alberto AU - Suanzes,Jorge AU - Hervada,Xurxo SN - 23412879 M3 - 10.1016/j.anpede.2017.09.003 DO - 10.1016/j.anpede.2017.09.003 UR - https://www.analesdepediatria.org/en-prevalence-malnutrition-in-spanish-schoolchildren-articulo-S2341287918300760 AB - Introduction and aimsThe term malnutrition includes malnutrition due to excess or obesity, underweight as well as stunted growth. Its prevalence in a population can be estimated using anthropometric variables. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in Galician schoolchildren aged 6–15 years in the school year 2013–2014. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample by gender and age of the Galician population of 6–15 years old. The prevalence of obesity, underweight, and short stature was estimated by age and gender using the reference standards proposed by the World Health Organisation. Results7438 schoolchildren weighed and measured 16,4% presented malnutrition. The prevalence of obesity was 14.8%, underweight was 0.7%, and short stature for age was estimated at 1%. Obesity was more prevalent among boys. As regards underweight and short stature, when there were differences, prevalence was higher among girls. ConclusionsIn Galicia, 16 out of every 100 schoolchildren aged 6–15 years had malnutrition, with that due to excess or obesity being the most frequent. Prevalence of underweight and short stature did not exceed 1%. This data shows that primary prevention measures should be promoted at an early age to reduce malnutrition due to excess or adiposity, in particular. ER -