RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND CONSUMPTION OF ULTRAPROCESSED PRODUCTS IN 7TH GRADE ADOLESCENTS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH AND WITHOUT HEALTHY KIOSKS IN SAN SALVADOR DE JUJUY, YEAR 2023

Abstract

Relationship between nutritional status and the consumption of ultra-processed products in seventh-grade adolescents from educational institutions with and without healthy kiosks in San Salvador de Jujuy, 2023.

The objective of this final integrative project was to analyze if there is a relationship between nutritional status (NS) and the consumption of ultra-processed products (UPP) in seventh-grade adolescents from educational institutions with and without healthy kiosks in San Salvador de Jujuy in 2023.

Adolescents aged 12 and 13 who attend both educational institutions were evaluated. The sample was selected through a non-probabilistic convenience method and consisted of 197 male and female adolescents. A quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional, and retrospective approach was adopted for the study.

To assess NS, weight and height measurements were taken to calculate body mass index (BMI) and construct the BMI/age indicator. Surveys and questionnaires were used to analyze dietary intake and the frequency of UPP consumption.

The results related to NS and UPP consumption in school Nº 223 "Mendizábal" with a healthy kiosk and school Nº 455 without a healthy kiosk indicated that at least 5 out of 10 adolescents have a normal NS with a higher average consumption of UPP. Additionally, it was observed that at least 4 out of 10 overweight adolescents had a high UPP consumption in both institutions.

Finally, the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS and subjected to the chi-square test to determine whether there was a relationship between NS and UPP consumption. In conclusion, NS does not appear to be related to UPP consumption in adolescents from both educational institutions.

These results may be due to the study's focus on UPP purchases and consumption within the educational institutions, without considering factors such as family meals, extracurricular environments, physical activity, economic factors, and others.