Supervisors info:
Κουτελέκος Ιωάννης, Καθηγητής Εφαρμογών, Νοσηλευτική, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Ευαγγέλου Ελένη, Καθηγήτρια, Νοσηλευτική, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Τζουμἀκα-Μπακούλα Χρυσἀνθη, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction: In recent years there has been a gradual distancing from the traditional Mediterranean Standard, leading toward the adoption of the Western standard of diet.
Purpose: To explore the eating habits of children aged ten to twelve years in the wider region of Attica.
Methodology: During the school year 2016-2017, 200 children aged 10 to 12 years with random sampling of schools in Attica were studied. For the nutritional evaluation, an anonymous, semi- quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire - 78 foods were used, self –completed by students. The anthropometric assessment was based in body measurementsconducted by the researcher. For statistical processing of data,the statistical package SPSS 22 .0 was utilized. The non-parametric Mann - Whitney criterion was used to compare quantitative variables between two groups. The correlation coefficient of Spearman (r) was used to control the relationship of two quantitative variables. Significance levels are bilateral and the statistical significance is set to 0.05.
Results: Our sample consisted of 200 children aged 10-12 years with an average age of 11.2 years (SD = 0.8 years). 54.5% of students were girls. The results of the survey showed that 7.4% were overweight and 1.6% obese, with 94.4% of students having Greek origins. The average age of fathers was 46.3 years (SD = 4.9 years) and of mothers 42.8 years (SD = 4.3 years). 30.3% of the fathers were high school graduates as well as 35.5% of the mothers. 52.7% of parents smoked. Furthermore, 71.0% of mothers had normal BMI, 20.7% were overweight and 8.3% were obese. 67.0% of the students ate breakfast on a daily basis. The most frequent breakfast options were milk and cereals with 66.3% and 62.3% respectively. 60.0% of students usually have more than 3 meals a day. Children's diet is characterized by high frequency consumption of dairy, processed cereals and their products, olive oil, red meat, poultry, legumes, eggs, sweets, moderate fish consumption and low consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Gender does not particularly affect the eating habits of most foods. The boys consumed starchy foods more often than girls (p = 0.176). Students who were overweight / obese ate fruit and vegetables and nuts with a lower incidence compared to normal BMI students (p = 0.012). There was a significant negative correlation of the frequency of fruit consumption (p = 0.034, r = -0.15), and nuts (p = 0.0 03, r = -0.22) with age and an important positive correlation with the frequency of consumption of beverages / juices (P = 0,0 45, r = 0.14). Students who were of another nationality consumed significantly more dairy products (p = 0.027), starchy foods (p = 0.013), soft drinks / juices (p = 0.019), sweets / snacks (p = 0.037), and nuts (p = 0.022), compared to the students who were Greeks. Students whose mother was overweight / obese tended to consume more dairy (p = 0,0 77) as well as if they had a high level of father education (p = 0,023). The children whose parents smoked tended to consume more frequently sweets and snacks (p = 0.076). Students whose family income was over 18,000 a year consumed significantly more dairy products (p = 0.021), fish (p = 0.005), starchy foods (p = 0.015) and vegetables (p = 0.046) compared to students whose family income was below 18,000 per year.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this study and in line with the findings of other surveys, we observe that eating habits of students adopt elements from the Western diet standard. Health professionals have debt, in cooperation with the school and the family, through the Health Education Institution to play a key role, to impartto children healthy eating habits which are based in the traditional Mediterranean diet.
Keywords:
Children, Eating, Age, Mediterranean diet, Growth
