Weight status and food habits of preschool children in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: NOPLAS project

Malin Garemo; Amal Elamin; Andrew Gardner

doi:10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0018

Weight status and food habits of preschool children in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: NOPLAS project

Malin Garemo, Amal Elamin, Andrew Gardner

UWA Medical School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Eating habits established during childhood affect health in later life. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a high prevalence of obesity in adolescents and adults; however, data on the health of preschool children are scarce. This study assessed the weight status and dietary habits of Emirati and non-Emirati children attending nurseries in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Methods and Study Design: Weight and height were measured in children aged 18 months-4 years. Z scores for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) were calculated based on WHO protocols. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and food frequency. Results: A total of 203 children participated. Abnormal anthropometric status (z scores of 2) for WAZ was indicated in 12.8% of Emirati children versus 1.4% of non-Emirati children (p=0.008) and for BAZ in 19.9% of Emirati children versus 8.4% of non-Emirati children (p

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1302-1314
Number of pages	13
Journal	Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume	27
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0018
Publication status	Published - Nov 2018

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10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0018

Cite this

@article{8d045e6270c84deb9c3c55238518be81,

title = "Weight status and food habits of preschool children in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: NOPLAS project",

abstract = "Background and Objectives: Eating habits established during childhood affect health in later life. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a high prevalence of obesity in adolescents and adults; however, data on the health of preschool children are scarce. This study assessed the weight status and dietary habits of Emirati and non-Emirati children attending nurseries in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Methods and Study Design: Weight and height were measured in children aged 18 months-4 years. Z scores for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) were calculated based on WHO protocols. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and food frequency. Results: A total of 203 children participated. Abnormal anthropometric status (z scores of 2) for WAZ was indicated in 12.8% of Emirati children versus 1.4% of non-Emirati children (p=0.008) and for BAZ in 19.9% of Emirati children versus 8.4% of non-Emirati children (p",

keywords = "nutrition, dietary habits, United Arab Emirates, preschool children, CHILDHOOD OBESITY, SCHOOL-CHILDREN, SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS, DOUBLE BURDEN, NUTRITION, OVERNUTRITION, UNDERNUTRITION, ASSOCIATIONS, PREVALENCE, MORBIDITY",

author = "Malin Garemo and Amal Elamin and Andrew Gardner",

year = "2018",

month = nov,

doi = "10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0018",

language = "English",

volume = "27",

pages = "1302--1314",

journal = "Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition",

issn = "0964-7058",

publisher = "H E C PRESS, HEALTHY EATING CLUB PTY LTD",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Weight status and food habits of preschool children in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

T2 - NOPLAS project

AU - Garemo, Malin

AU - Elamin, Amal

AU - Gardner, Andrew

PY - 2018/11

Y1 - 2018/11

N2 - Background and Objectives: Eating habits established during childhood affect health in later life. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a high prevalence of obesity in adolescents and adults; however, data on the health of preschool children are scarce. This study assessed the weight status and dietary habits of Emirati and non-Emirati children attending nurseries in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Methods and Study Design: Weight and height were measured in children aged 18 months-4 years. Z scores for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) were calculated based on WHO protocols. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and food frequency. Results: A total of 203 children participated. Abnormal anthropometric status (z scores of 2) for WAZ was indicated in 12.8% of Emirati children versus 1.4% of non-Emirati children (p=0.008) and for BAZ in 19.9% of Emirati children versus 8.4% of non-Emirati children (p

AB - Background and Objectives: Eating habits established during childhood affect health in later life. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a high prevalence of obesity in adolescents and adults; however, data on the health of preschool children are scarce. This study assessed the weight status and dietary habits of Emirati and non-Emirati children attending nurseries in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Methods and Study Design: Weight and height were measured in children aged 18 months-4 years. Z scores for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) were calculated based on WHO protocols. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and food frequency. Results: A total of 203 children participated. Abnormal anthropometric status (z scores of 2) for WAZ was indicated in 12.8% of Emirati children versus 1.4% of non-Emirati children (p=0.008) and for BAZ in 19.9% of Emirati children versus 8.4% of non-Emirati children (p

KW - nutrition

KW - dietary habits

KW - United Arab Emirates

KW - preschool children

KW - CHILDHOOD OBESITY

KW - SCHOOL-CHILDREN

KW - SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS

KW - DOUBLE BURDEN

KW - NUTRITION

KW - OVERNUTRITION

KW - UNDERNUTRITION

KW - ASSOCIATIONS

KW - PREVALENCE

KW - MORBIDITY

U2 - 10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0018

DO - 10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0018

M3 - Article

VL - 27

SP - 1302

EP - 1314

JO - Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JF - Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition

SN - 0964-7058

IS - 6

ER -