Tempeh–dates biscuits effect on the gained weight of moderate underweight children

Abstract

Underweight status may cause growth disturbance, laziness in conducting daily physical 
activities, and decreased intellectual capacities due to impaired brain development. The 
study examined the effect of tempeh-date biscuits on the nutritional status of moderate 
underweight children. A single blind quasi experimental pre - post study design undertaken 
at Depok City, West Java Province within 4 weeks. Underfives children in intervention 
group (n = 13), control group I (n=16), and control group II (n=18) participated in the study. 
Independent t-test and ANOVA used to analyze the nutritional status difference, final height 
and weight. Mean nutritional status and differences assessed by paired t-test. The results 
showed that there was a significant increase in mean weight of 1.3 ± 0.4 kg in the 
intervention group (p = 0.001) and of 0.4 ± 0.5 in the control group (p=0.008). Increasing 
mean height in the control group was higher (1.8 ± 1.7 cm) than intervention group (1.5 ± 
1.7 cm). There was correlation between weight and supplementary feeding in the control 
and intervention groups. Nutritional status can be improved by tempeh-date biscuits