Self-perceived assessment of nutritional status as a determinant of health-promoting and anti-health-promoting behaviors of adolescent boys.

BACKGROUND: Analyses were conducted for the effect of selected elements of lifestyle determining the attitude of adolescent boys to health, care over good physical condition and own appearance against self-consciousness and the real nutritional status of their bodies. OBJECTIVES, MATERIAL AND METHODS: Investigations were conducted at Collective School No. 1 in Wroclaw and covered 369 boys (103 at the age of 16, 104 at the age of 17 and 162 at the age of 18) from Poland (Wroclaw). The boys were subjected to anthropometric measurements and nutritional status assessment. A questionnaire survey referred to: 1) interests in own appearance, self-perceived assessment of body mass and nutritional status; 2) nutritional behaviors, applying a body mass-reducing diet, other "special diet" and dietary supplements; 3) the level of physical activity; and 4) the use of stimulants (cigarettes, alcohol). Data was also collected on the educational status of parents and the number of siblings, which were then analyzed for their effect on the above elements of lifestyle. Results obtained were subjected to a statistical analysis. RESULTS: Proper body mass (BMI between 10th and 90th percentile) was observed in 81.8% of the boys; malnutrition (BMI < 10th percentile) in 5.7% of the boys; whereas overweight and obesity (BMI > or = 90th percentile) in 12.5% of the examined boys. Analyses have also shown that 34.2% of the boys were evaluating their nutritional status, whereas 19.5% did not think about it. Only approx. half the examined pupils (51.0%) considered their body mass "fine", i.e. were satisfied with their body mass. A lack of satisfaction with their own appearance was declared by 21.4% of the boys. CONCLUSIONS: The self-perceived assessment of body mass was observed to diverge from the results of objective analyses of the nutritional status of the boys. That factor was found to determine, to a considerable extent, behaviors of the pupils with respect to going on a body mass-reducing diet, taking dietary supplements and smoking cigarettes. The study indicates that the nutritional status of youth should be monitored and that actions should be undertaken to increase their awareness of the principles of a healthy lifestyle.

[Assessment of risk factors of metabolic syndrome in girls and boys from south-west area of Poland]. / Ocena czynników ryzyka zespolu metabolicznego u dziewczat i chlopców z terenu poludniowo-zachodniej czesci Polski.

The research was aimed at evaluating risk factors: level of physical activity, BMI, using of unhealthy substances, appearing of illness in the family, age and sex in according to increase frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in teenagers from Wroclaw. Height and the body weight were measured to assess BMI according to Cole's index in group of 409 girls and 369 boys. Metabolic syndrome was characterized when three of risk factors was noticed like: high level of triglycerids (> or = 110 mg/dl), glucose (> or = 110 mg/dl), waist circumference (> or = 90 percentyl) or low level of HDL - cholesterol (< or = 40 mg/dl). Logistic regression and odds ratio were used to identify number of group with MS (7.7% boys, 6.4% girls), generally 7.1%. One components of ZM was noticed in 36.8% of group, two - 14.9%. Metabolic syndrome was not stated in 41.3% of teenagers. A significant influence of the excess weight and the obesity, the age of pupils, smoking cigarettes to the height of the risk of the metabolic syndrome and his components was stated. In the MS prevention they are essential alterable elements: a proper physical effort, the standardization of parameters of the body and not-taking substances.

[Evaluation of selected features of the lifestyle being conducive to the state of health of 16-18 year old girls. Part II. Nutritional habits]. / Ocena wybranych cech stylu zycia ksztaltujacych stan zdrowia 16-18 letnich dziewczat. Cz. II. Zwyczaje zywieniowe.

The aim of the study was to analyze nutritional habits of 409 16-18 year old girls from Wroclaw. They are one of three elements shaping health attitude of girls. This research indicates mostly committing nutritional mistakes of the girls e.g.: irregularity of meals consumption 73% of girls, incorrect number of meals about 60% of girls, omission of breakfast about 15% of girls and lunch 20% of girls, movement of main meal up to late evening and night hours, and regular snaking meals 53.0% of girls.

[Assessment of selected features of the lifestyle being conduicive to the state of health of 16-18 year old girls. Part I. Dieting, physical activity, smoking and drinking alcohol]. / Ocena wybranych cech stylu zycia ksztaltujacych stan zdrowia 16-18 letnich dziewczat. Cz. I. Stosowanie róznych diet, aktywnosc fizyczna, palenie papierosów i picie alkoholu.

The aim of the study was to analyze health attitude of 409 16-18 year old girls from Wroclaw in three areas: physical activity, dieting, and smoking and alcohol use. Research indicated different levels of underweight among 17.4% of girls, overweight and obesity among 11.2% of girls, and inappropriate level of physical activity among 60% of girls. Negative self-evaluation of own appearance among 50% of girls contributed to dieting among 32% of girls. Studies indicated as well that 49% of girls smoke, and 89% of girls drink alcohol occasionally or every week.

[Intake of food products by obese inhibitans from Wroclaw]. / Spozycie grup produktów wsród otylych mieszkancow Wroclawia.

The aim of the study was to asses food products intake in food ratio of women (n = 70) and men (n = 30) with BMI 27-40 from Wroclaw, which were patients of endocrynological section in Clinic Hospital in 2004. The 24 - hours recall and album of photographs of food products and dishes were used to estimate food products intake. Results of the study were compared with recommendation for adults in age 26-60 with low physical activity. In average food ratio the improperly high intake of meat and meat products (women 152% and men 198% of recommended level), fat (respectively 336% and 250%) and sugar and sweets (180%) were observed. The low intake of milk and milk products (women 71% and men 38% of recommendation) and vegetables and fruit (respectively 70% and 64%) were noticed. The way of nutrition of examined adults had many abnormalities predicted to increase body mass. The most errors including incorrect distribution of meals during the day, incorrect number of meals with snacks between them and too low physical activity was observed.

Evaluation of plant products from the Legnicko-Glogowski region for their contamination with arsenic.

Contents of arsenic were determined in plant products originating from the region of two copperworks, Glogów and Legnica. Analyses were carried out by means of atomic absorption spectrometry, using an MHS-10 unit for hydride generation (acetylene/argon), after wet mineralisation of samples. The maximum permissible level of arsenic was not exceeded in any of the examined samples of cereals, potatoes, carrots, beetroots, cabbages, tomatoes, apples and pears, originating from the regions under scrutiny.

[The influence of RS4 resistant starch on wistar rats metabolism. Biochemical and lipid indices]. / Wplyw skrobi opornej RS4 na metabolizm szczurów rasy Wistar. Wskazniki biochemiczne i lipidowe.

The influence of resistant starch RS4 on total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, triacyloglycerols (TAG) composition in blood serum and liver of rats was determined. 4 week experiment involved 32 males and 40 females laboratory Wistar rats allotted in 4 groups in each sex. Control rats were feed ad libitum with standarised synthetic diet AIN-93. In experimental groups animals were given modified feed enriched with 5% of resistant starch. monophosphate of potato starch, monophosphate of soluble potato starch and monophosphate of potato starch heated with glycne and microwaved were examined. Diet enrichment with resistant starch decerased triacyloglycerol level (TAG) while the total cholesterol (TC) level, in serum was not affected.

[Effects of resistant starch RS4 on magnesium and iron absorption in Wistar rats]. / Wplyw skrobi opornej RS4 naabsorpcje magnezu i zelaza u szczurów rasy Wistar.

The effect of resistant starch RS4 on apparent absorption of magnesium and iron was studied in Wistar rats. The rats (4 groups male n=12 and 4 groups female n=12) were fed for 4 weeks diets: control with wheat starch (K) and 3 diets with modified resistant starches (S1, S2, S3). After an adaptation period (14 d), rats were transferred to metabolic cages. Dietary intake and faeces were monitored for 3 days. Mg and Fe levels were assessed in diets and feces by atomic absorption spectrometry. Apparent absorption of minerals was calculated as mineral intake minus fecal excretion and expressed as persentage of intake. Our results confirmed that Mg apparent absorption in female rats fed diet with resistant starch S2 was significantly increased (+37%) compared with the control group.

[Assesing the food intake in first year students of Agricultural University in Wroclaw]. / Ocena sposobu zywienia studentów i roku Akademii Rolniczej we Wroclawiu.

The aim of the paper, in which the 24-hour recall was used, was to asses the food intake of selected nutrients in first year student of Agricultural University in Wroclaw. The recommended dietary allowances for energy and basic nutrients in group of woman were particularly low, in group of man-intake of saturated fatty acids, cholesterol and animal protein was improperly high.

[Nutritional determination of obesity in adults from Wroclaw]. / Uwarunkowania zywieniowe otylosci wsród doroslych mieszkanców z Wroclawia.

In this paper food intake of 70 women and 30 men with BMI 27-40 was assessed by 24 hour nutritional recall. It was found that the majority of examined food ratios were characterized by high level of energy (extra 800-1200 kcal), fat and saturated fatty acid, protein, especially animal origin and cholesterol. The percent of energy from fat was improperly high, about 40% among women and men.

[Nutritional knowlegde, lifestyle and food groups intake in the group of the first year students of Agricultural University in Wroclaw]. / Wiedza zywieniowa, styl zycia i spozycie grup produktów w grupie studentów i roku Akademii Rolniczej we Wroclawiu.

In this paper, the level of nutritional knowledge, lifestyle and food group intake was assessed in the first year students of Agricultural University in Wroclaw, by using nutritional questionnaire. Generally, the level of knowledge of principles of rational nutrition was particularly low. Inadequate low intake of cereal, milk, meat products, potatoes, fruit and vegetables was noticed in group of women. Too high intake of meat products, eggs and plant fat was observed in the group of men.