Dietary Patterns, Food Quality, and Nutritional Status of School-Aged Children (8–12 Years) in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa: Implications for Public Health

<ns3:p>Background Adequate nutrition during childhood is essential for normal physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term health outcomes. In South Africa, both undernutrition and overnutrition continue to coexist despite ongoing interventions, underscoring the importance of understanding children’s dietary practices and nutritional quality. Aim This study aimed to investigate the dietary patterns, food quality, and nutritional status of School-Aged Children (8–12 Years) in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa: Implications for Public Health. Methods A cross-sectional design was used involving 347 children recruited through snowball sampling from eight randomly selected villages. Dietary intake and eating patterns were assessed using structured questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were conducted in line with World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and BMI-for-age, weight-for-age, and height-for-age z-scores were computed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Findings showed that most children consumed breakfast regularly (74.6%) and ate three main meals per day (60.8%). Consumption of vegetables (p = 0.012), fruits (p = 0.010), dairy products (p < 0.001), and whole grains (p < 0.001) was significantly associated with nutritional status indicators. The prevalence of stunting was notable, with 21.0% moderately stunted and 20.5% severely stunted. At the same time, overweight (42.1%) and obesity (32.6%) were highly prevalent, while thinness was uncommon (1.1%). Conclusion Parental education and marital status were also significant influencing factors. Overall, the results reflect a double burden of malnutrition, highlighting the need for improved dietary diversity and strengthened parental nutrition education.</ns3:p>