Malnutrition in Suburban Elementary School Children and its Relationship with Educational

Growth retardation may lead to adverse effects on the educationalachievement and social development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the growth amongprimary school children and its relationship with educational achievements in Kermanshah urban areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 704 children randomlyselected from 32 girls’ and 37 boys’ schools. The height and weight were measured using standardmethods. The nutritional status was evaluated using Waterlow and Gomez classification, and educationalachievement was assessed by class marks. Statistical analysis of Pearson correlation, ANOVA, T-test, andKruskal–Wallis tests was performed using SPSS16 software; P The findings of this study showed the prevalence of malnutrition in relation to underweight and
stunting in 26% and 9/5, respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition according to the classification ofBMI of 86/2% moderate and severe and in 87/13% of the students was mild. There was a negativecorrelation observed between overweight and mathematics achievement (P = 0.02, r = −0.182). In
addition, inverse correlations were observed between writing skills and overweight and obesity (P = 0.04,
r = −0.09). Stunting and BMI were significantly associated with mathematic marks (P = 0.01, r = 0.112)
and (P = 0.01, r = −0.191).
Discussion and Stunting mainly related to chronic malnutrition in children; therefore,appropriate approaches are required to provide the optimum growth during childhood. Adequatenutritional support in schools is recommended, including one or two school meals, to promote children’sgrowth and educational achievement.