CHILD FEEDING BEHAVIOUR, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, AND FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY AMONG PRESCHOOLERS IN A SOCIALLY VULNERABLE AREA

Food insecurity (FI) can directly impact children’s eating behaviour and nutritional status, potentially leading to long-term health issues. This study aimed to examine the relationship between children’s eating behaviour, nutritional status, and FI among preschoolers in a socially vulnerable area of a municipality in Southern Brazil. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted involving children aged 2 to 5 who were beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program (BFP). Data were collected using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA). Nutritional status was classified using height-for-age and BMI-for-age indices. The study comprised 90 children, with 59.0% experiencing food insecurity. Girls exhibited a higher average score of disordered eating behaviour compared to boys, indicating a stronger interest in food. Nutritional status analysis revealed a high prevalence of overweight risk (43.30%), particularly among boys. A significant association was observed between BMI-for-age (eutrophy) and food insecurity (p=0.003). The majority of eutrophic children also experience food insecurity. There is a need to carry out research on similar topics in order to support the development of public policies on food and nutritional security.