Social inequality and obesity in Czech school children.

This study uses logistic regressions to consider the effect of social factors, physical activity, meal frequency and BMI of parents on children's body mass index (BMI) values. Three thousand three hundred and sixty-two children aged 7-11 years were examined in 38 schools in the Czech Republic. Six anthropometric characteristics were assessed in 1999-2000. Most important factors influencing children's BMI values were: obesity of both or at least one of the parents, being an only child, residence in small communities, and irregular breakfasts.

Bodily characteristics and lifestyle of Czech children aged 7.00 to 10.99 years, incidence of childhood obesity.

In 1991-2000 in the Czech Republic a survey of the prevalence of obesity was made. The assessment was made by the transversal method in elementary schools in all regions of the Czech Republic. Children aged 7.00 to 10.99 years were investigated. The survey comprised a total of 3362 children (1668 girls and 1694 boys). A total of 12 anthropometric dimensions were recorded and questionnaires addressed to the children and parents were analyzed. From the results ensued that the ratio of obese children of both sexes in the CR (i.e. children with BMI values about the 97th percentile of the reference population) increased. This zone comprised 6.0% boys and 5.6% girls of the investigated group. An important finding was also the increase of mean values of the abdominal circumference of the children in all age groups in both sexes. The ratio of obese children in different communities is related unequivocally to the size of the community., In smaller communities there are more obese children (according to our data 6.9%) and in large towns the ratio of obese children is 2.3%. In large towns there is also a greater proportion of thin children - 12.1%, in small communities 8.6%. It was found that there is a higher percentage of obese children in families where the mother has elementary education as compared with children of mothers with secondary and university education. Mothers with elementary education have 9.6% obese children while university educated mothers have only 3.6% obese children. Analysis of the dietary questionnaires revealed that only 62.9% children in large towns eat breakfast, the position in villages is similar - 63.9%. In the group of children with excessive body weight fewer children have breakfast (only 54.1%), in the group of children with a low body weigh the majority eat breakfast (75.3%). The majority of children have a mid-morning snack at school which they bring from home. As regards school lunch the majority of children from large towns replied that they have lunch at school. the number of rural children who had school lunch was smaller. An afternoon snack is taken by less than half the children in different groups.

Indicators of risk of ischaemic heart disease in patients with acute myocardial infarction under 65 years and their relatives.

The incidence of risk factors for atherosclerosis was investigated in a group of 846 patients under 65 years of age, hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AIM) in coronary hospital units in 21 districts of the Czech Republic in 1996. The group of patients comprises 649 men and 197 women. The incidence of risk factors in patients was compared with the incidence of risk factors in the population of the Czech Republic: the mean values of the investigated indicators are in patients with AIM higher in both sexes (total serum cholesterol, triacylglycerols, BMI, WHR). As to anamnestic data, in the majority low or irregular physical activity predominates, a high percentage of patients reported that they "do not restrict" or "rather do not restrict" their total food intake nor the intake of animal fats. Among the patients 52.6% males and 42.1% females were smokers. The results indicate that patients with AIM have a higher incidence of risk factors for atherosclerosis, a higher percentage of patients have cumulated risks and a higher percentage of patients has a higher risk score than the general population. The incidence of AIM is markedly higher in subjects with lower education.

A program to reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in the czech republic: design and methods of the healthy dubec project.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality rates in the Czech Republic are among the highest in the industrialized world. Due to the substantial burden CVD plays on the health and well being of the Czech society, a variety of health promotion/disease management strategies to reduce CVD risk need to be designed and implemented. A project that combined community-based health education programs designed to address pervasive perceptions and cultural traditions that influence lifestyle factors, with secondary and tertiary prevention clinical strategies to aggressively treat high-risk individuals was recently conducted in Dubec, a small Czech community. This article describes the methods used in this project (i.e., the Healthy Dubec Project) which took American-based technology and experiences in community risk reduction methods and clinical management strategies for high risk patients and adapted them to fit the Czech people and their attitudes about CVD risk behaviors.

"Healthy Dubec" -design of a joint Czech-American community project for the reduction of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (adapted from American experience).

The project is a combination of individual and community-based intervention which adapted and modified methods and techniques originally used in The Three-City Community Study and The Stanford Five-City Project in a small community outside Prague. The goal is to reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors by primary and secondary prevention, using a community-based approach. 61.5% of examined population with the low risk score during the baseline survey was exposed to intervention by community-based methods. 38.5% of adult population was included in intervention activities within the framework of secondary prevention in high risk groups. There are described: the method of community oriented intervention and the intervention oriented on high risk groups - nutrition intervention, quit smoking activities, stress control, physical activity promotion.

[New recommendations for nutritional requirements for the Czechoslovak population]. / Nové odporúcané výzivové dávky pre obyvatel'stvo CSFR.

The authors present new recommended energy and nutrient allowances for the population of CSFR. The allowances are defined for 29 physiological groups, incl. 11 groups of children and adolescents and 18 groups of adults (productive age and more advanced age groups). The recommended allowances are the result of research of two teams--a Czech and a Slovak one--, results are published in the world literature, FAO and WHO reports. The recommended system can be considered an important step in the area of nutritional prevention of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity.

[Trends in lipid consumption in the Czechoslovak population]. / Vývoj spotreby lipidu v nasí populaci.

The health status of our population is not satisfactory, an important part in this respect is played among others also by nutrition. The authors submit information on changes in the energy, protein and fat consumption of the Czechoslovak population during the period between 1936 and 1987. The increase in fat consumption is due in the first place to the increased consumption of meat, milk, eggs and fats. While in 1936 the mean consumption was 79.0 g of fat per head per day, in 1987 the intake was more than 129 g, i.e. by 63% higher. In addition to fats the greatest contribution to fat intake is made by meat and meat products (40%), milk and dairy products (18%) and cereal products (13%). The increase in lipid consumption is one of the risk factors participating in the development of cardiovascular diseases, the trend of which is alarming. Improvement can be achieved by a change of dietary habits; the prerequisite is a nation-wide programme with an active approach in all spheres--from farmers, the food industry and commerce to all types of communal and family catering.

Dietary copper intake of the population.

Average copper intakes by different groups of the Czech population, supplemented by the results of serum copper level determinations, are surveyed. It is shown that the dietary copper intake averages in males range from 1.26 to 3.08 mg per person per day, in females from 1.61 to 2.37 mg per person per day. The main copper sources are cereals and meat. Judged by the recommended allowances, dietary intakes of this trace element in Czechoslovakia appear adequate. This is supported by the serum copper levels (18.55-25.8 mumol/l) in the selected groups of the population: none of these was below the range of normal physiological limits.