Dietary Intake of school children and adolescents in developing Countries

Abstract

School age and adolescence is a dynamic period of growth and development forming a strong foundation for good health and productive adult life. Appropriate dietary intake is critical for forming good eating habits and provides the much needed nutrients for growth, long-term health, cogni- tion and educational achievements. A large proportion of the population globally is in the school age or adolescence, with more than three quarters of these groups living in de- veloping countries. An up-to-date review and discussion of the dietary intake of schoolchildren and adolescents in de- veloping countries is suitable to provide recent data on pat- terns of dietary intake, adequacy of nutrient intake and their implications for public health and nutrition issues of con- cern. This review is based on literature published from 2000 to 2014 on dietary intake of schoolchildren and adolescents aged 6–19 years. A total of 50 studies from 42 countries re- porting on dietary intake of schoolchildren and adolescents were included. The dietary intake of schoolchildren and ado- lescents in developing countries is limited in diversity, main-y comprising plant-based food sources, but with limited in- take of fruits and vegetables. There is a low energy intake and insufficient micronutrient intake. At the same time, the available data indicate an emerging trend of consumption of high-energy snacks and beverages, particularly in urban ar- eas. The existence of a negative and positive energy balance in the same population points to the dual burden of malnu- trition and highlights the emerging nutrition transition in developing countries. This observation is important for plan- ning public health nutrition approaches that address the concerns of the two ends of the nutrition divide.