Assessment of a school-based intervention in eating habits and physical activity in school children: the AVall study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a global public health problem, which also affects children. It has been proposed that the educational interventions during childhood could be a key strategy in the prevention of obesity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an intervention on food habits and physical activity in school children. METHODS: A 2-year cluster-randomised prospective study with two parallel arms was used to evaluate an intervention programme in children in their first year of primary schooling (5-6 years of age) in schools in the city of Granollers. The intervention consisted of the promotion of healthy eating habits and physical activity by means of the educational methodology Investigation, Vision, Action and Change (IVAC). At the beginning and at the end of the study (2006 and 2008) the weight and height of each child was measured in situ, while the families were given a self-report physical activity questionnaire and the Krece Plus quick test. RESULTS: Two years after the beginning of the study, the body mass index of the children in the control group was 0.8 kg/m(2) higher than that of the intervention schools. The intervention reduced by 62% the prevalence of overweight children. Similarly, the proportion of children that ate a second piece of fruit and took part in an after-school physical activity increased in the intervention group. In the control group, the weekly consumption of fish was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The educational intervention in healthy eating habits and physical activity in the school could contribute to lessen the current increase in child obesity.

[Weight, dietary patterns and exercise habits in first-year primary school children: the AVall study]. / Estado ponderal, hábitos alimentarios y de actividad física en escolares de primer curso de educación primaria: estudio AVall.

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.

Estado ponderal, hábitos alimentarios y de actividad física en escolares de primer curso de educación primaria: estudio A Vall / Weight, dietary patterns and exercise habits in first-year primary school children: the A Vall study

Objetivo: Determinar el estado ponderal y los hábitos alimentarios y de actividad física de escolares de primer curso de primaria de la ciudad de Granollers. Diseño y población de estudio: Estudio transversal de los niños censados en todas las escuelas de la ciudad de Granollers, nacidos en el año 2000. En septiembre-octubre de 2006 se determinó el peso y la talla de cada niño, las familias respondieron una encuesta de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos y de actividad física y el test rápido Krece Plus. Para definir el sobrepeso y la obesidad se utilizaron los puntos de corte de índice de masa corporal propuestos por la International Obesity Task Force. Resultados: Se estudió a 566 escolares. La prevalencia de sobrepeso fue del 19,6% y la de obesidad, del 8,5%. Sólo el 3,9% de los escolares tomaban un desayuno adecuado y el 17,1% comían 5 raciones de fruta y verduras al día. A escala familiar, destaca el bajo consumo de frutas (22%), verduras (37%), pan/pasta alimenticia/arroz/cereales (14%), pescado (32%), legumbres (13%) y frutos secos (9%). Los alumnos que almorzaban en la escuela tomaban más fruta (el 38 frente al 29%), verdura (el 35 frente al 25%) y pescado (el 82 frente al 73%). El 82% de los niños realizaban actividad física de manera regular. Conclusiones: Uno de cada 4 escolares de primero de primaria presenta ya problemas de peso. Los niños que almuerzan en la escuela tienen mejores hábitos alimentarios. Los hábitos inadecuados de la familia pueden condicionar los hábitos del escolar (AU)

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 (AU)