Malnutrition Status and the Impact of Daily Activities and Dietary Habits on Stunting: A Study of 4,871 Preschool Children in Inner-City Hanoi

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate malnutrition and the impact of daily activities and dietary habits on stunting in preschool children to identify effective prevention strategies. The study included two phases: a cross-sectional analysis of 4,871 children from nine preschools in Hoang Mai district and a case-control study of 207 stunted children and 2,984 normal-height children , using WHO criteria for nutritional status classification. Results indicated that the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was 3.6%, 7%, and 2.4%, respectively. Underweight and stunting were more common among girls (4.4% vs. 3.0% and 8% vs. 6%, respectively), while wasting was slightly higher in boys (2.5% vs. 2.2%). Significant associations with stunting included less than 1 hour of moderate and vigorous physical activity (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.71) and meal times exceeding 40 minutes (OR = 1.73). Preferring to eat lean meat reduced the risk of stunting (OR = 0.72, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.54–0.98). Factors such as night sleep duration, bedtime, active physical activities at school, sedentary behaviors, and preferences for fats, sweets, eggs, vegetables, and milk consumption before sleep were not significantly associated with stunting. The study suggests that monitoring eating times, encouraging more moderate and vigorous physical activity, and increasing lean meat consumption can help reduce the risk of stunting in children.