Supervisors info:
Καρτερολιώτης Κ., Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, ΤΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Γελαδάς Ν., Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, ΤΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Συντώσης Λ., Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Διατροφής και Διαιτολογίας, Χαροκόπειο Πανεπιστήμιο
Summary:
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the convergent validity of the Greek version of the “Previous Day Physical Activity Recall” (PDPAR) and to evaluate children΄s physical activity and dietary habits in urban and rural areas in Evia. The study aimed at assessing the association between physical activity and dietary habits as well as evaluating active and low-active children΄s dietary habits.
Method: The sample of this research was 443 students (226 boys and 217 girls) fourth, fifth and sixth grade of elementary school. Children΄s physical activity was measured using (a) the “Previous Day Physical Activity Recall” (PDPAR) and (b) the Computer Science and Application In. (CSA) 7169 monitor as a criterion measure, while children΄s dietary habits were assessed by using the “Food Frequency Questionnaire” (FFQ). The children completed the PDPAR in three consecutive days, recording the physical activities of the previous day, in which they participated from 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm. For the same period 30 children wore the monitor (CSA) to evaluate the validity of the PDPAR. The last day of the project the children completed the FFQ, recording their consumption of dairy products, cereals, proteins, fruits & vegetables and miscellaneous. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess the relations between the variables, while MANOVAs were used to appraise the children΄s differences in relation to physical activity and dietary habits.
Results: The results showed that the questionnaire “Previous Day Physical Activity Recall” was proved to be a valid self-report instrument for qualifying relative participation in moderate physical activity and MET level in 10-to-12 year old children. The boys participated not only in more physical activities (METs) (F=13,227, p<0,001), but also in more vigorous physical activities (F=11, 595, p<0,001) than the girls, while the children of urban areas participated in more moderate physical activities (F=7,431, p<0,01) than the children of rural areas. Moreover, children΄s physical activity at weekend was higher than the physical activity on weekdays. The 72,45% of the children was classified as active, according to a moderate activity standard. Lastly, the children΄s physical activity did not associate with their BMI and their parents΄ education.
In relation to children΄s dietary habits, the results showed that the consumption of cereals and vegetables was under the proposed values of Food Guide Pyramid: US Department of Agriculture (1992), while the consumption of the miscellaneous was high. The girls consumed less snacks, sweets, pizza and soft drinks (F=7,077, p<0,01) than the boys. Additionally, the active children consumed more, diary products (F=5,572, p<0,05), proteins, (F=4,723, p<0,05) and fruits & vegetables (F=3,873, p<0,05) than the low-active children. What was also found was that the parents΄ education correlated weakly and negatively only in relation to the children΄s consumption of the miscellaneous.
Conclusions: The children prefer to participate in light and moderate physical activities and consume high quantities of miscellaneous. The children΄s attitude and behavior towards exercise affect positively their dietary habits. It is necessary thus to motivate and encourage children, particularly the girls, to participate more in vigorous physical activities, as well as to inform and guide them properly, particularly the boys, so that the children adopt healthy dietary habits.
