title: Variations of body composition, physical activity and caloric intake in schoolchildren during national holidays.
abstract: Scientific literature has described that a significant body weight increase in schoolchildren occurs during some holiday periods (summer, winter, and thanksgiving holidays), harming their health. In this regard, it is thought that this phenomenon is mainly due to changes in eating habits and the variation in levels of physical activity; however, this approach has not yet been explored during national holidays (NAH) in Chile.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine any changes in body composition, physical activity and caloric intake during NAH.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 46 schoolchildren (24 boys, age 10.5 ± 0.5; BMI 21.7 ± 4.7) participated. Measurements were performed 2 days before and after the NAH (9 days). Weight was measured and fat percentage was established using the Slaughter formula. Levels of physical activity were measured with accelerometers, validating 3 weekdays and 1 weekend; caloric intake was established through a 24-h recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight, percentage of fat and caloric intake increased significantly (250 g, 2.2 % and 733.3 kcal, respectively; p < 0.05); however, none of the variables of physical activity showed significant changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The change in caloric intake seems to be the main cause of weight and fat gain during the NAH.
authors.affiliation: Grupo IRyS, Laboratorio de Motricidad Humana, Escuela de Educación Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. El Bosque 1290, Viña del Mar, Chile. carlos.cristi.montero@gmail.com.|Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile. carlos.cristi.montero@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cristi-Montero
authors.affiliation: Carrera de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Universidad Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munizaga
authors.affiliation: Carrera de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Universidad Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Chile.
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tejos
authors.affiliation: Universidad de León, León, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: Carrera de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Universidad Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Chile.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henríquez
authors.affiliation: Grupo IRyS, Laboratorio de Motricidad Humana, Escuela de Educación Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. El Bosque 1290, Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Solís-Urra
authors.affiliation: Grupo IRyS, Laboratorio de Motricidad Humana, Escuela de Educación Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. El Bosque 1290, Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Body weight; Diet; Fat mass; Physical activity