Original scientific paper
The effects of physical activity and nutrition on body weight of twelve year olds in Split area in school year 2012/13
Maja Marušić
; Teaching Institute of Public Health SDŽ Department of School and University Medicine
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the eating habits, physical activity and
sedentary habits among twelve-year-old children, and show the influence of eating
habits and physical activity on their weight.
Subjects : In this study 440 twelve-year-olds have been surveyed , sixth grade students
from Split elementary schools. Of the total number of respondents there were 207
boys and 233 girls. The survey was conducted during the second semester of school
year 2012/2013 .
Methods: Subjects were volunteers chosen at random. The survey was anonymous
and consisted of two parts. It included questions about sex, eating habits, their weight
and height, what they think about their weight, how much they are physically active,
and what their sedentary habits are.
Results: The results of this study showed that more boys(4,3%) than girls (0,45%) do
not eat breakfast. Female children eat more meals per day than male children
(p=0,012). The weekly consummation of hot meals did not show statistically
significant difference between the sexes. Boys eat more meat than girls (p = 0,019),
while the consummation of fish hasn't got statistically significant difference between
the sexes. Boys and girls eat fruits and vegetables equally. Fast food is also eatenalike,
while sweets are consumed more by male respondents (p = 0,014). There is no
statistically significant difference between two sexes in consumation of sweet drinks.
More girls than boys with the same body mass index (p = 0,01), believe that they are
fatter than they should be. More girls stated that they were not on a diet, although they
would have to lose weight (p = 0.025). Boys are more physically active than girls
(p=0,005), but there is no statistically significant difference between them in terms of
spending time in front of TV and computer.
Keywords
Eating habits, physical activity, sedentary habits
Hrčak ID:
297494
URI
Publication date:
7.4.2014.
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