The Effect of Fruit Ice Cream on Weight Gain in Stunted Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46799/adv.v4i9.648Keywords:
avocado ice cream, weight gain, toddlers, stunting, supplementsAbstract
Growth problems in toddlers, particularly stunting, remain a significant nutritional concern that requires serious attention. One strategy to improve nutritional intake in children is the provision of appealing supplementary foods, such as fruit-based ice cream. Avocados contain energy and nutrients that may help support nutritional adequacy and weight gain in stunted toddlers. This study aimed to determine the effect of avocado ice cream consumption on weight gain in stunted toddlers. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental two-group design was employed, consisting of an intervention group and a control group. The study included 36 toddlers, with 18 participants assigned to the intervention group and 18 to the control group. Body weight was measured before and after the intervention. Differences in weight gain between the intervention and control groups were analyzed using an independent-samples t-test at a significance level of ? = 0.05. The mean weight gain in the intervention group was 610 g, whereas the control group experienced a mean weight gain of 205.56 g. The independent-samples t-test yielded a two-tailed p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05), indicating a statistically significant difference in weight gain between the two groups. The provision of avocado ice cream was associated with significantly greater weight gain among stunted toddlers. Therefore, avocado ice cream may serve as an appealing supplementary food option to support weight gain in toddlers with stunting.
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