[Obesity and lifestyles among teenagers in Apulia. Survey run by a team of general practitioners].
Obesity represents one of the most worrying public health concern of the last decades. The objective of the present work was to find out more about the real risky habits of teenagers, in order to think of specific educational programs. The research sample was composed of 721 respondents (aged 11-13 years old) attending the primary schools located in Martina Franca (TA). More than 70% of the sample was formed by normal weight individuals, 24.5% was composed of overweight individuals, 5.5% were obese. The relevant differences existing between normal weight and overweight individuals are basically due to the different daily meals organization and to the specific vegetable consumption habits. More than 83% of normal weight individuals have breakfast in the morning, while among the overweight only 75% do it (OR = 0.6; 95% IC: 0.4-0.9; p < 0.01); more than 94% of normal weight kids have snack breaks between the main meals, while only 82% of overweight respondents are used to do it (OR = 0.2; 95% IC: 0.15-0.43; p < 0.01). 36% of the overweight eat vegetables everyday, among the normal weight 45% eat them (chi2 = 12.5, p < 0.05). No relevant differences in the extra school time management. The main outcome of the present study is that kids basically follow a common eating behavior: high carbohydrates and proteins consumption, low fruit and vegetables consumption, few time spent in physical activities. This is why it is strongly recommended to develop educational programs targeted to individuals in this age range.
Martinelli
D
D
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Medicina Pubblica, Sezione di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Bari.
Colucci
G
G
Iacovazzo
P
P
Pavone
F
F
Prato
R
R
Germinario
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D005194:Family Practice; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*