Characterization of adolescents with excess malnutrition in the Rafael María de Mendive Mixed Center, Sandino

Abstract

Introduction: adolescence is a period of rapid growth and important changes in body composition; it is a stage with a high prevalence of nutritional disorders, and excess malnutrition is among the most frequent. Objectives: to characterize adolescents with excess malnutrition belonging to the Rafael María de Mendive Mixed Center of the Sandino municipality in the period from September 2020 to January 2021. Methodology: a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out. The universe was represented by 552 adolescents, between 12 and 17 years of age, the sample consisted of 197 adolescents of either sex by simple random sampling. A descriptive statistical analysis was applied by calculating the numerical and percentage distribution, as well as the mean and standard deviation. The variables, age, sex, birth weight, blood pressure, risk factors and biochemical variables were used. Results and conclusions: obese adolescents predominated in 50,8 % of the male sex, of the age group between 16 and 17 with (37,6 %) with obesity in 50,8 %, there was a predominance of normal weight (82,7 %), with normal blood pressure figures in (81,2 %) and overweight with 43,7 %, Abdominal obesity was the most frequent risk factor in 100 %, microalbuminuria in 23,4 % of the patients, which shows the importance of adequate nutritional habits and modification of healthy lifestyles to avoid excess malnutrition in adolescents.