Page 174 - MHF-FeedingMinds-final.indd
P. 174
Malnutrition in School Children 165
●● The number of times children are exposed to a ●● Vitamin and mineral intakes are generally
food increases the likelihood they will try the adequate in primary school age children but poor
food and then learn to like it. Children eat more in secondary school age children, particularly
fruit and vegetables at schools where more fruit girls (see Table 6.2.3, Chapter 6.2, page 178).
and vegetables are offered.
A survey by a school meals caterer in 2005
Energy and Nutrient Intakes of reported that eating breakfast is at its highest in
School Age Children the pre-pubertal years, tending to decline,
especially in girls, as adolescence approaches.
The best evidence of dietary intakes in this age Thirteen per cent of 8- to 16-year-old school
group in the UK was provided by the National Diet children leave home in the morning having not
and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) (Gregory et al. eaten beforehand. Many buy sweets, crisps,
2000), based on a seven-day weighed intake data chocolate and sweetened drinks on the way to
obtained during 1997. A new rolling programme of school, but 8 per cent have nothing to eat before
national dietary surveys began in 2009 and uses a school (Sodexho 2005).
four-day reported food diary rather than weighed
food intakes (Department of Health 2011). The Portion Sizes
results from a food diary are less accurate and more
likely to contain under-reporting. To date, results Energy intakes and portion sizes depend on size
are only available from the 870 school age children and gender and activity. Eating approximately
surveyed in the first two years of the rolling within the ranges suggested in Table 6.1.1 would
programme, but indications are similar to those provide an average energy intake and nutrient
found in the 1997 survey which surveyed twice as sufficiency. The recommended number of servings
many. The findings include the following: per day from each food group is discussed in
Chapter 1.2 (see Table 1.2.1, page 14).
●● Primary school aged children have a more
nutritious diet than those 11 years and over. Malnutrition in School Children
They also eat more fruit than older children.
Obesity is the most common form of malnutrition
●● Energy intakes are below the estimated average in school age children in the UK. This is discussed
requirement, which is probably indicative of in Chapter 7.2.
lower physical activity levels.
Underweight or faltering growth
●● Percentages of energy derived from total
fat and total carbohydrate are close to Underweight children are defined as those who
recommendations: 35 per cent and 50 per cent, are below the 2nd centile line on a body mass
respectively. index (BMI) centile chart. Faltering growth is
usually defined as crossing 2 centile spaces
●● Percentages of energy from saturated fat and downwards on a weight-for-age or height-for-age
non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) were similar centile chart.
throughout childhood and adolescence and
exceed recommendations of 10 per cent Both these conditions are less common in school
and 11 per cent respectively. Soft drinks and age children than those below the age of 5 years and
confectionery were the main source of NMES. in school age children they are usually due to an
underlying medical condition, poor appetite,
●● Protein intakes are adequate. family problems, concern about body image or
self-imposed dietary restriction. If increasing food
●● Fibre intakes are low for all children when intake does not rectify either of these conditions
compared to the adult recommendation of
18 g/day.
