Correlation between food consumption and nutritional status using MUAC Zscore tape

• Autores: Pozo Verdesoto , Socrates David, Lindao Cañizares , Miriam Gisela, Herrera Martinez , Cecilia, Rey Garces , Cristhian Fernando
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2025
• Institución: Universidad José Carlos Mariátegui
• Repositorio: Revista ciencia y tecnología para el desarrollo UJCM
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:ojs.revistas.ujcm.edu.pe:article/315
• Enlace del recurso: https://revistas.ujcm.edu.pe/index.php/rctd/article/view/315
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Desnutrición; MUAC; Alimentación escolar; Evaluación nutricional

This study evaluated the relationship between dietary consumption patterns and nutritional ranges determined using the MUAC Z-score tape in Ecuadorian students. A quantitative descriptive analysis was conducted with 128 children aged 3 to 12 years from a rural school in Guayas during the 2025-2026 school year, utilizing a Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (CFCA) and anthropometric measurements. The results indicated that 63% of the students had normal nutrition, 23% had mild malnutrition, and 5% had moderate malnutrition. Children with adequate nutrition consumed dairy products, meats, fruits, and vegetables more frequently than those who were malnourished. A significant association was found (p<0.001) between low consumption of nutritious foods and malnutrition, confirming that the MUAC Z-score tape is a useful tool for nutritional assessment in rural contexts.