Nutritional Status of Children in Cabanatuan City: An Assessment Study

Abstract

This study assessed the nutritional status of children aged 0–59 months in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, using anthropometric indicators based on World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional research design, data were gathered from a total of 9,068 children selected through random sampling. The findings revealed that while the majority of children exhibited normal weight-for-age (44.40%–50.37%), height-for-age (39.69%–49.41%), and weight-for-length/height (22.00%–24.00%), a proportion still suffered from undernutrition, including underweight (0.61%–1.68%), stunting (1.20%–2.47%), and wasting (0.35%–1.57%). Additionally, early signs of overnutrition were detected, with overweight and obesity rates ranging from 0.37% to 3.83% and 0.41% to 1.82%, respectively. These trends highlight the growing “double burden of malnutrition” in urban settings, where both under- and overnutrition coexist. The results underscore the importance of strengthening nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs, including maternal education, early child feeding practices, and regular growth monitoring. The study calls for integrated, community-based interventions and policy responses that address both nutritional deficits and the rising incidence of childhood obesity, to ensure optimal growth and development in the pediatric population of Cabanatuan City.