Sociodemographic disparity in the nutritional status among children and adolescents in Zhejiang Province.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the sociodemographic disparity in the nutritional status including BMI, vitamin D and vitamin A status among children and adolescents in Zhejiang Province.

METHODS

Weight, height serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and serum retinol were assessed in 2818 children and adolescents (6-17 years of age), using ten investigation sites in Zhejiang Province including urban and rural areas data from the China National Nutritional Study 2016-2017, which is a nationally representative cross-sectional study, to form provincial representative sample of Zhejiang Province. Sociodemographic disparity was explored.

RESULTS

The prevalence of low weight, eutrophic, overweight and obese were 6.7%, 70.4%, 11.6%, and 11.2%, respectively. Significant difference was observed on BMI between males and females (P < 0.05), and between urban and rural areas (P < 0.05). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, inadequacy, normal and appropriate were 1.8%, 34.9%, 46.4% and 16.9%, respectively. Significant difference was observed on the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) both between genders and between living areas (P < 0.05). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, marginal deficiency and appropriate were 4.5%, 24.7%, and 70.9%, respectively. Significant difference was observed on the concentration of retinol between living area (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight and obesity, deficiency and inadequacy of vitamin D, deficiency and marginal deficiency of vitamin A were prevalent among children and adolescents. There were disparities between genders and between living areas on the nutritional status. Regional and sex-specific guidelines and public health policies for children and adolescent nutrition are needed.