Association of Daily Life Activity with Nutritional Status among Children with Food Allergy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66021/pakmcr756Keywords:
Food Hypersensitivity, Nutritional Status, Activities of Daily Living, Paediatrics, Quality of Life, Cross-Sectional Studies, Growth Charts, Diet Therapy.Abstract
Introduction:
Food allergy contributes to the avoidance of essential dietary items in children, potentially leading to nutritional deficiencies, as many allergenic foods are rich sources of vital nutrients. Common allergens include cow’s milk, fish, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, and tree nuts. Beyond dietary restrictions, food allergies can impact several domains of a child’s daily life including meal preparation, social and school activities, family relations, and financial burden. These lifestyle disruptions may contribute to compromised nutritional status. This study aimed to explore the association between daily life activity and nutritional status among children with food allergy.
Objective:
To assess the association between daily life activity and nutritional status among children with food allergy.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional study included 253 children with diagnosed food allergies. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data related to demographic and allergy-specific characteristics. Nutritional status was assessed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. The impact on daily life activities was evaluated using the Food Allergy Impact Scale. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0. The Chi-square test was applied to determine the association between nutritional status and daily life impact scores.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 8.82 years. The mean weight was 24.50 kg, and the mean height was 46 inches. Of the total participants, 119 were male and 134 were female. Out of all participants, varying forms of malnutrition were observed, including stunting, wasting, underweight/overweight, and combined forms of malnutrition, while a small proportion had no nutritional impairment. Regarding the Food Allergy Impact Scale (FAIS), 229 participants had a non-significant impact, whereas 24 showed a significant impact. There was no significant association between nutritional status categories and FAIS (χ² = 1.888, p = 0.864).
Conclusion:
No significant association was found between daily life activity and nutritional status among children with food allergy.
