Unit:
ΠΜΣ Κλινική Παιδιατρική και Νοσηλευτική - ΈρευναLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Kaimenopoulos Fotios
Supervisors info:
Κυρίτση Ελένη, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Νοσηλευτική, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Κουτελέκος Ιωάννης, Καθηγητής Εφαρμογών, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Τζουμάκα-Μπακούλα Χρυσάνθη, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Συσχέτιση σωματικής άσκησης και παιδικής παχυσαρκίας
Translated title:
Correlation between physical actinity and childhood obesity
Summary:
Introduction: Child obesity levels are constantly increasing at an alarming rate within the world, causing serious concerns for parents, health care providers and policymakers.
Objective: This study estimated the body mass index (BMI) of children aged between 5 and 16 years old and its association with their eating habits and their physical activity levels.
Subjects and Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 500 children aged 5 to 16 years old who were hospitalized at the Athens General Pediatric Hospital "Agia Sofia". The data were collected from the answers of both parents and children at the KIDMED TEST questionnaire (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index) and SAPAC questionnaire (Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist). SPSS version 22.0 was used for standard statistical analysis. T-test, Chi-square test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were applied. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Of 500 eligible subjects 58.6% were girls aged 5-16 years (10.5 ± 3.3). A percentage of 9.6% of children were underweight, 64.2% of normal weight, 17.2% overweight and 9% obese. Boys had higher BMI, p = 0.036. There was a statistically significant correlation between the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) and the frequency of their participation in physical activity, p = 0.020. There was also found a positive correlation between child BMI and i) parental BMI (p <0.001), ii) hours playing electronic games, TV and the Internet (p <0.001) and negative correlation with monthly family income (p = 0.003), as well as hours of physical activity and monthly family income (p = 0.008). Furthermore there was a negative correlation between the child BMI and the maternal (p <0.001) or the paternal (p = 0.001) educational attainment. Finally, a positive correlation of the KIDMED score with the educational attainment of mother (p <0.001) and this of father (p <0.001) was found.
Conclusion: The prevalence of child obesity is high and children's eating habits do not follow the Mediterranean diet plan. Factors related to childhood obesity are family income, parental education and eating habits as well as the lack of physical activity. Further investigation of factors contributing to increased childhood obesity levels is necessary to bring this phenomenon under control. In order to reduce the phenomenon of childhood obesity, parents, schools, social workers and health care providers should educate children on healthy food choices and encourage them to regular physical activity.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Child obesity, Prevalence, Body Mass Index, Mediterranean diet, KIDMED TEST, Physical activity, SAPAC, Health
Number of references:
529
