This study aimed to generate sex-specific percentile curves for the percentage of body fat (PBF) in Thai children using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The secondary objective of this study was to determine the association between body fat and other anthropometric measurements. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3455 Thai school children aged 6–18 years. The body-fat contents were measured using BIA. Smoothed percentile curves of PBF were derived using a scatter plot with a smooth curve fitted by the Loess method. The correlations between the body fat and the anthropometric measurements were assessed using the Spearman’s rank correlation. The 50th and lower body-fat-percentile curves of the boys slowly increased until age 12, after which they slightly decreased until age 15 and then slightly increased until age 18. In the higher boys’ percentiles, the body fat sharply increased until age 11 and then decreased until age 18. In the girls, the PBF percentiles increased steadily from 6 to 18 years. The body-mass index was strongly correlated with PBF and fat mass in both sexes. The waist-to-height ratios showed strong correlations with PBF and fat mass in the boys but were moderate in the girls. The use of PBF percentile curves can be an additional metric for the evaluation of obesity in Thai children.

Pediatric anemia remains a significant public health challenge in Northeast Thailand, where hemoglobinopathies and nutritional deficiencies coexist. Early identification of children at risk of anemia is crucial to prevent developmental and health consequences. This study assessed the prevalence of children under five being at risk of anemia using Masimo Rad-67® with Rainbow DCI-mini Sensor, while evaluating the association between caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on complementary feeding and childhood anemia. A clustered randomized cross-sectional study was conducted involving 2,000 child-caregiver pairs (aged 6 months to 5 years) in Northeast Thailand from September 2022 to March 2023. Non-invasive hemoglobin measurement was used, with anemia risk defined as spectrophotometry hemoglobin (SpHb) < 13.0 g/dL. Data collection included demographic characteristics, natal history, and feeding practices. Additionally, a survey was conducted to assess associated factors of anemia and caregivers’ attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding complementary feeding. The study found a 36.9% prevalence of at-risk anemia. Key predictors included age under 24 months (adjusted OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.7–2.6), maternal thalassemia trait (adjusted OR 1.8, 95%CI 1.4–2.3), and wasting (adjusted OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.2–2.1). Iron supplementation was a protective factor. Despite 48.2% of children receiving iron supplementation per government policy, only 24.6% met the daily iron intake according to the Thai dietary reference intake. Gap in caregiver knowledge persisted, with 68.1% of caregivers having received education on iron deficiency anemia, and only 32% able to name iron-rich foods. Public health strategies should combine nutritional education targeting iron-rich complementary feeding, implementation of a thalassemia-integrated screening protocol, and proactive community surveillance programs to improve iron intake. Thai clinical trial registration: TCTR20221024002.

Background: Vitamin C deficiency remains an under-recognized condition in children, especially in Southeast Asia. This study aimed to study the clinical characteristics, dietary risk factors, and outcomes of pediatric vitamin C deficiency in a tertiary hospital in Southern Thailand. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of children aged 1 to 15 years diagnosed with vitamin C deficiency from 2004 to 2024. Diagnosis was based on serum ascorbic acid levels below 0.4 mg/dL, or clinical-radiographic findings. Data collected included demographics, developmental status, dietary history, clinical presentations, radiological and laboratory results, treatment, and outcomes. Results: Forty-six children were diagnosed; the median age was 4.8 years, and 60% were male; developmental delay was present in 54.4%. The majority had poor dietary intake, with 73% not consuming adequate fruits and vegetables; no significant differences were observed when classified by developmental status. Common clinical signs included: limb pain (76.1%), refusal to walk (52.2%), and bleeding gums (39.1%). Radiographs showed osteopenia in 73.8% and white line of Frankel in 47.6%. Serum ascorbic acid deficiency was significantly associated with low fruit and vegetable intake and excessive milk consumption over the recommendations (p < 0.05). Treatment with oral vitamin C resulted in clinical improvement; although, residual symptoms persisted in some cases. Conclusions: As pediatric vitamin C deficiency is still of concern, this study highlights the importance of early detection in at-risk children and the critical role of detailed dietary history to identify inadequate nutrition. Prompt recognition and intervention can prevent misdiagnosis and improve clinical outcomes. Hence, strengthening parental education on nutritional intake is essential to reduce future incidences.