Ali ZA, Sabahelkhier, MK and Babiker EE
Background: This study was designed to evaluate the nutritional status of randomly selected respondents (boys and girls) living in areas around Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods and finding: A simple random sample of 400 respondents with age between 6 and 19 years (200 boys and 200 girls) were selected randomly from sampling frame using random numbers table. Two types of data were collected; socioeconomic and anthropometric data. Data about the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondent’s families was collected through personal interview using a questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of the respondents were taken. Food frequency and 24-hour recall method was used to evaluate their daily food intake. The respondents average daily intake of dietary fiber and copper was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) lower than that of the DRI. For boys the average daily intake of vitamin D and E and calcium was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) lower than that of the DRI and only folate for girls. Their intake of other nutrients was significantly higher than that of the DRI (unbalanced meals). 41.5% of boys and 46% of girls were underweight and 6.5% of boys and 4.5% of girls were suffered from severe malnutrition. Apart from the family monthly income, age, father’s education and mother’s work none of the hypothesized predictors of the respondent’s nutritional status were found to be significantly correlated with the respondent’s nutritional status indicators. However, mother work negatively correlated with the girl’s nutritional status. Conclusion: The study revealed that more than 40% of the respondents were overweight due to the fact that both respondents average daily intake of carbohydrates, protein and saturated and unsaturated fat was significantly higher than that of the DRI, while the amount of some vitamins and minerals was significantly lower than that of the DRI. None of the hypothesized predictors of the respondent’s nutritional status were found to be significantly and negatively correlated with the student’s nutritional status indicators except mother work.
