Abstract

This study, which comprises of a total of 415 children (201 boys and 214 girls) attending preschool education in the city centre of Konya, was carried out to determine heights (cm), weights (kg) and some nutrition habits of 60-72 month-old children. The sample represents 5.4% of the universe. A questionnaire form was used as the data collection tool in the survey research. Children’s heights (cm) and weights (kg) were measured by the researcher and their Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) values were calculated. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Charts that demonstrate the number and percentage values regarding each question were produced and necessary arithmetic means were computed. Chi-square test was employed in assessing the relationships between the parameters and a p value of less than 0.05 at the confidence interval of 95% was considered significant. The children’s mean weights (kg), heights (cm) and BMIs (kg/m2) were found to be 20.73±3.60 kg, 115.17±5.65 cm, 15.58±2.11 kg/m2, respectively. It was observed that most children (58.8%) are between 15th-85th percentiles. 91.5% of boys and 86.0% of girls eat three meals a day regularly, and 32.5% of all children like all meals. 63.1% of girls and 57.7% of boys are picky in eating.

Key words: Preschool, nutrition habits, BMI, percentile.