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  3. 16.Assessment of Nutritional Status Among 12-18 Year Age Group Using Who Z-Scores in Post-Pandemic Era of Covid-19
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16.Assessment of Nutritional Status Among 12-18 Year Age Group Using Who Z-Scores in Post-Pandemic Era of Covid-19

Fakhruddin Ahmad1, Abdulrahman M Alshahrani2, Ghulam Mustafa3 and Abdullah Mohammed Bin Hussain4

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the proportion of overweight and obesity among adolescents living in the semi-urban areas of Shaqra and to compare it with the baseline data from 2018.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Colleges of Medicine, Shaqra University (SU), in Shaqra, Saudi Arabia, during September 2018 to March 2023.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 in 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) nutritional assessment tool was used to categorize overweight and obesity based on the adolescents’ Z-scores. The results were compared with the baseline data on obesity collected in 2018. The chi-square test and odds ratio with 95% CI were calculated to assess the association between age and various risk factors and obesity.  P <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: A decrease in mean BMI score of -4.3% was observed between 2018 and 2023. The nutritional status showed a significant (P<0.01) improvement in all nutritional indices from 2018 to 2023. Intake of three or fewer meals per day [1.81 (1.16–2.83); P< 0.01], healthy food intake [1.52 (1.10–2.09); P< 0.01)] showed a significant increase from 2018 to 2023. Similarly, the frequency of restaurant visits [2.0 (1.42–2.81); P< 0.01] and time spent on outdoor activity [3.22 (2.27–4.57); P< 0.01] showed a significant increase from 2018 to 2023.

Conclusions: In the post-COVID era, children became more physically active and opted for healthy eating habits, both of which improved their nutritional status.

Key Words: Body Mass Index; COVID; Obesity; Overweight; School; Z-score

Citation of article: Ahmad F, Alshahrani AM, Mustafa G, Hussain AMB. Assessment of Nutritional Status Among 12-18 Year Age Group Using Who Z-Scores in Post-Pandemic Era of Covid-19. Med Forum 2023;34(9):70-74. doi:10.60110/medforum.340916.