Professional paper
Obesity is disease – food can be cure; Carrying out the pilot project
Jagoda Dabo
; Department of public health Primorsko goranska county, Rijeka, Croatia
Đulija Malatestinić
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Suzana Janković
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Henrietta Benčević Striehl
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Helena Glibotić Kresina
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Nataša Dragaš Zubalj
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Abstract
Aim: To analyze the eating habits, lifestyles, family anamnesis, assessing the nutrition status through specially aimed physical - out of schedule examinations, and suggest preventive intervention programs in elementary school students.
Methods: This research was conducted throughout the year 2008. In the 7 elementary schools in the town Rijeka. The sample presents 496 pupils in the age of 12. The examination contained anamnesis, family anamnesis, measuring height and weight, calculating Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), measuring the skin fold and blood pressure.
Results: centile distribution and BMI show that 15,2 % of pupils is overweight and 3,4 % is on the edge of obesity or obese. At the same time, one quarter of pupils think that they are overweight. Almost one third of the young (31 %) in this vulnerable period of development is not having a breakfast, girls more often than boys. One quarter of examinees never or just once a week eats 1 portion
of vegetables and 10 % of children never eat fruit. Dairy drinks were never consumed by 6 % of pupils, while 11 % to 20 % of them sometimes consume alcoholic drinks (twice a month up to twice a week). Fast food is consumed 4 times a week, up to every day 13 % of pupils, while 63 % do so once a week. In the last 7 days more then 34 pupils were physically active at least 1 hour a day. Almost the same number of examinees spends 4 and more hours daily watching TV and playing video or computer games.
Conclusion: There is a correlation of overweight and obesity in childhood and grown up age. Therefore, the programs of primary prevention that include promotion of healthy lifestyle, healthy and energy – balanced nutrition, moderate physical activity, reorganization of school kitchens and controlled menus is important to perform right in that, very vulnerable period of growing up. Intervention should be careful and paced because the young people in that period are coping with irrational experience of themselves and their bodies.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
34713
URI
Publication date:
2.3.2009.
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