Dietary habits and physical activity in youth.
Increased rates of obesity among youth in the last several decades have led to the emergence of several health problems. Declining physical activity is also contributing to this trend.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the dietary habits and physical activity in youth.


METHODS
177 Greek students participated in the present study. Interviews were performed using a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
Of the participants, 80.2% were normal weight individuals, 18.6% were overweight, and 1.2% was obese. Of the normal weight participants, 72.5% ate breakfast on a daily basis, and 45.5% of the overweight individuals ate breakfast irregularly. Among the respondents, 88% underlined the impact of life style on their nutritional status, 17% actually exercised or played sports > 20 minutes per day, 20.3% reported asthma, and 83.3% with asthma were overweight.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial proportion of young people engaged in health risk behaviors associated with obesity, diabetes, and asthma. Adoption of healthy lifestyles could prevent the risk for chronic disease.
Nikolakopoulos
Konstantinos M
KM
The School of Health and Welfare Professions, Patras Highest Institute of Education and Technology, Patras, Greece. nikoletanikolakopoulou@yahoo.com
Nikolakopoulou
Nikoleta M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult