[Obesity, overweight and physical activity in elementary school children].
This research presents an epidemiological study on the prevalence of obesity and overweightness in an Elementary School population. 243 children of third and fourth grade (males 52.26% and females 47.74%, 9-10 years old) of the Selvazzano (Padova) District, were evaluated during the annual medical visit. The Body Max Index (BMI) and the Cole index were calculated. The parents filled out a questionnaire which investigated the level and quality of involvement in sports. The statistical analysis was executed by the ANOVA test and post Hoc analysis. 59.02% of the children resulted within the ponderal normality with the Cole index < or = 110, 13.5% resulted overweight (Cole index 110 divided by 120), 20% resulted obese (Cole index 120 divided by 140), 7.3% resulted highly obese (Cole index > 140). High level obesity was found in fourth grade boys (p < 0.0001). As far as sports are concerned, it is noted that 173 children (73.3%) practise some sport. The more practised sports, swimming (44.5%), soccer (27.1%) and gymnastic (15.02%), are practised twice a week by 58.3% of the children. Obesity and overweight in the examined population result high even in relation to data found in literature. When choosing a sport activity to prevent overweightness or obesity, one should advise parents, school operators and students to choose a sport with a great caloric consumption, at least 250-300 kcal per session, twice a week, along with a change in active lifestyle. Regarding swimming, the most practised sport, children should be sent at an early age (4-5 years old) in order to anticipate learning of the athletic gesture, and to do this at an age in which obesity and overweightness have less an incidence.
Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università degli Studi, Padova.
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Bordin
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De Giorgi
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Porqueddu Zacchello
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Zanon
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Rigon
D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*