TY - JOUR
T1 - Total Usual Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of United Arab Emirates Children (4 Years–12.9 Years)
T2 - Findings from the Kids Nutrition and Health Survey (KNHS) 2021
AU - Hwalla, Nahla
AU - Chehade, Lara
AU - O’Neill, Lynda M.
AU - Kharroubi, Samer
AU - Kassis, Amira
AU - Cheikh Ismail, Leila
AU - Al Dhaheri, Ayesha S.
AU - Ali, Habiba I.
AU - Ibrahim, Sarah
AU - Chokor, Fatima Al Zahraa
AU - Mohamad, Maysm N.
AU - Ayesh, Wafaa
AU - Nasreddine, Lara
AU - Naja, Farah
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by Societé des Produits Nestlé, S.A.- Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland, (Award# 103451) through a contract with the American University of Beirut, and sub-contracts with the University of Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates University, and Tathqeef Health Treatment Undertakings Services in the UAE.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - This study aims at investigating the anthropometric status and food consumption patterns of children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and assessing their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations. It is a population-based cross-sectional survey of 690 children (4–12.9 years), from 3 major Emirates. Socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics were collected. Dietary intakes were assessed using the 24-hour recall approach. Of the total sample, 4% were stunted, 8% were wasted and 28% were overweight/obese. A third of participating children consumed above the Estimated Energy Requirement, while the majority’s intakes carbohydrate, total fat, and protein were within the recommendations; whereas over 70% and 90% of participants consumed above the WHO daily limits of free sugars and saturated fats, respectively. Inadequate intakes of linoleic acid (36% of children), alpha-linolenic acid (91%) and dietary fiber (100%) were observed. All children failed to meet the recommendation for vitamin D and considerable proportions had inadequate intakes of vitamin A, calcium, zinc, folate, and magnesium. Compared with the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, low dietary adherence was noted for fruits (9%), vegetables (4%), and milk/dairy (14%). These findings may be used in the development of nutritional policies aimed at improving the diets of children in the UAE.
AB - This study aims at investigating the anthropometric status and food consumption patterns of children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and assessing their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations. It is a population-based cross-sectional survey of 690 children (4–12.9 years), from 3 major Emirates. Socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics were collected. Dietary intakes were assessed using the 24-hour recall approach. Of the total sample, 4% were stunted, 8% were wasted and 28% were overweight/obese. A third of participating children consumed above the Estimated Energy Requirement, while the majority’s intakes carbohydrate, total fat, and protein were within the recommendations; whereas over 70% and 90% of participants consumed above the WHO daily limits of free sugars and saturated fats, respectively. Inadequate intakes of linoleic acid (36% of children), alpha-linolenic acid (91%) and dietary fiber (100%) were observed. All children failed to meet the recommendation for vitamin D and considerable proportions had inadequate intakes of vitamin A, calcium, zinc, folate, and magnesium. Compared with the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, low dietary adherence was noted for fruits (9%), vegetables (4%), and milk/dairy (14%). These findings may be used in the development of nutritional policies aimed at improving the diets of children in the UAE.
KW - United Arab Emirates
KW - children and adolescents
KW - dietary adherence
KW - food consumption patterns
KW - food intake
KW - malnutrition
KW - obesity
KW - overweight
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145920242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85145920242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu15010234
DO - 10.3390/nu15010234
M3 - Article
C2 - 36615891
AN - SCOPUS:85145920242
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 15
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 1
M1 - 234
ER -