<![CDATA[Nutritional status is a crucial indicator of young children’s growth, with dietary patterns and dietary diversity hypothesized to influence it significantly. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between dietary patterns and dietary diversity and nutritional status based on the Height-for-Age Z-score (HAZ) index among young children. Using an analytic observational cross-sectional design, 37 children aged 60–72 months were selected through total sampling. Dietary patterns, dietary diversity, and nutritional status were assessed using the FFQ, IDDS, and HAZ, respectively, and analyzed using the Spearman Rank test. Most children had good dietary patterns (75.7%), moderate or high dietary diversity (45.9% each), and normal HAZ status (75.7%). Dietary patterns showed a very strong positive relationship with HAZ (r = 0.804; p = <0.001), while dietary diversity showed a moderate positive relationship (r = 0.516; p = <0.001). Thus, better dietary patterns and greater dietary diversity were significantly associated with more favorable height-for-age nutritional status, highlighting the importance of balanced and varied diets in supporting optimal child growth and development.]]>
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