title: [Weight, dietary patterns and exercise habits in first-year primary school children: the AVall study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate weight, dietary patterns and exercise habits in children attending the first year of primary school in the city of Granollers (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study of children enrolled in the schools of the city of Granollers. All the children were born in 2000. Data were collected from September to October 2006. Weight and height were measured in each schoolchild. The parents completed a questionnaire on the frequency of food intake and physical activity and the Krece Plus test. The International Obesity Task Force cut-offs for body mass index were used to define overweight and obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 566 schoolchildren were included. The prevalence of overweight was 19.6% and that of obesity was 8.5%. Only 3.8% of the children had an adequate breakfast and 17.1% ate five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Some families consumed a low amount of fruit (22%), vegetables (37%), bread/pasta/ rice/cereals (14%), fish (32%), legumes (13%) and nuts (9%). Children who had lunch at school ate more fruits (38% vs 29%), vegetables (35% vs 25%) and fish (82% vs 73%) than those who did not have lunch at school. A total of 82% of the schoolchildren exercised regularly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A quarter of the children who participated in the study were overweight. The schoolchildren who had lunch at school had better dietary patterns. Inappropriate family habits can determine children's dietary habits.
authors.affiliation: Fundació Hospital General de Granollers, Barcelona, España. Ellargues@fhag.es
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Llargués
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Assumpta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Recasens
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: José Pérez
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Mateo
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Recasens
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Conxa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castells
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male