Relación del estado nutricional con el consumo basado en la oferta alimentaria de bares institucionales de Unidades Educativas privadas de un sector urbano del cantón Loja

Abstract

Abstract: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between nutritional status and food consumption in institutional cafeterias. The foods offered in these establishments, commonly selected by those who prefer processed and ultra-processed foods, do not meet nutritional recommendations, which can negatively affect optimal development and contribute to health problems in adulthood, such as weight gain, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus. The research sought to identify students' consumption preferences in cafeterias and their impact on nutritional status. A qualitative-quantitative study was conducted with a cross-sectional observational and analytical cohort design, using anthropometric assessment using WHO software to establish the relationship between nutritional status and food preferences. Of the 144 students studied, 69.5% were within the normal range in terms of height and weight for their age, while 30.5% were overweight. Furthermore, due to the limited variety in food options, more than 65% of the study population tended to consume processed and ultra-processed foods.