Does Regional Consumed Legumes and Nuts Affect Anthropometric Measurements in PreSchool and School-Aged Children

Introduction: Nuts, seeds and legumes are all nutrient-dense foods. Preclinical and clinical studies show that legumes are functional foods that modulate biological processes that facilitate obesity, including thermogenesis, visceral fat accumulation, and satiety. Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the consumption of legumes and oilseeds consumed locally in children living in the KA±rklareli (Thrace) region and to evaluate their relationship with anthropometric measurements. Methods: A total of 1075 volunteer students and their families, 513 (47.7%) girls and 569 (52.3%) boys, between the ages of 3-9, studying in pre-school and primary schools, participated in the study. The students' anthropometric data (body weight, height, waist circumference, neck and wrist circumference) were taken. Results: In this study conducted with 1075 children, 47.7% (513 people) of the participants were girls and 52.3% were boys (562 people). When their legume consumption was examined, it was found that 2.5% every day, 29.3% between 3-5 days a week, 45.3% once a week, 7.2% every 15 days, rarely 7.5% and 8.2% of the participants who stated that they did not consume it. The most common legumes consumed by the participants were dried beans, lentils and chickpeas. The most common oilseeds consumed “3-5 days a week” were determined as walnuts, roasted hazelnuts and almonds. There was no statistically significant effect of legumes and oilseed consumption on anthropometric values. Conclusion: Legumes and oilseed consumption habits did not have a significant effect on growth and development. However, weakness, stunting and obesity continue to be important problems as indicators of insufficient and unbalanced food consumption. Keywords: Legumes; nuts; anthropometry; preschool children; school age children