European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATION OF NUTRITIONAL AND ANTHROPOMETRIC PROFILES OF SCHOOLCHILDREN IN AZILAL PROVINCE (RURAL AREA), MOROCCO

Ahmed Badahi*, El Arbi Rjimati, Khalid El Kari, Asmaa El hamdouchi, Youness Taboz, Hasnae Benkirane, Amina Barkat and Hassan Aguenaou

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional profile of schoolchildren in a rural area in Morocco. The study was performed using a sample of 152 schoolchildren aged between 7 and 9 years old in the Azilal province in Morocco. The data collected were processed by WHO Anthroplus according to WHO standards and Nutrilog software on the basis of the Moroccan food composition table and were subjected to statistical analysis by SPSS software version 2.1. The Results showed that emaciation measured by the BMI / A indicator (standard deviation) according to WHO standards reaches 0.7%, the average daily energy intake per person is 1513 ± 35.31 Kcal with a prevalence of insufficient daily energy intake of schoolchildren of 56% (N = 85) below the recommended nutritional intake which is 1912Kcal. These daily caloric intakes come from 55% carbohydrates, 32% lipids and 13% protein. The studied population is characterized by a food intake below the recommended nutritional intakes internationally from an energy point of view. This requires a sound policy in nutrition education.

Keywords: Schoolchildren-Energy-carbohydrate-lipids-protein.