Prevalence of Malnutrition Among School‐Aged Children With and Without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: A Cross‐Sectional Study
= 0.022). Concurrent stunting and overweight/obesity (individual-level double burden) was observed in 12% of non-IDD children and 7% of children with IDD. In conclusion, nearly half of this hospital-based sample of Saudi school-aged children had evidence of malnutrition, with overnutrition exceeding undernutrition. While overall malnutrition prevalence did not differ between children with and without IDD, the distribution across IDD subtypes was clinically meaningful. Routine growth monitoring and targeted nutrition support are needed in both clinical and school settings.
Authors
- Lujain Abdulaziz ALMOUSA (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7968-418X)
- Naseem M. Alshwaiyat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2140-260X)
- Nora A. AlFaris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9135-5725)
- Reham I. Alagal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8515-1574)
- Malak A. Alsemari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3958-0482)
- Jozaa Zaidan ALTAMIMI (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5510-0768)
Institutions
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (SA)
- Jordan University of Science and Technology (JO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Food Science & Nutrition
- Published
- 2026-04-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.71816
- Primary Topic
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University