Health Status and Nutritional Habits in Maldives Pediatric Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT: Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the Maldives, triggered by the nutrition transition to a "Western diet" that dramatically increases the prevalence of excess weight and hypertension. Our study aimed to evaluate dietary habits, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index in Maghoodoo Public School's students. A sample of 145 students (72 males and 73 females, age 9.37 ± 2.97 years) was enrolled. Factors causing excess weight were investigated through descriptive statistics. The relationship between blood pressure percentiles and possible influencing factors was investigated by a linear regression model.. Excess weight was present in 15.07% and 12.5% females and males, respectively. 15.18% of the subjects had elevated BP, with a si

SUBMITTER: Cazzaniga E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9740220 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature