Hábitos alimentarios, conductas sedentarias y sobrepeso y obesidad en adolescentes de Barcelona / Eating habits, sedentary behaviors and overweight and obesity among adolescents in Barcelona (Spain)

INTRODUCCIÓN: El desayuno representa la ingesta más importante de una alimentación equilibrada y su supresión se asocia al sobrepeso. El objetivo del estudio es estimar la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en adolescentes de Barcelona y analizar su asociación con hábitos alimentarios inadecuados y conductas sedentarias. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado en 2008 a una muestra representativa de estudiantes de secundaria de Barcelona. Se definió sobrepeso y obesidad en base al índice de masa corporal (IMC) a partir de medidas objetivas. Se determinó la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad y se analizó su asociación con hábitos alimentarios, actividades sedentarias y actividad física mediante modelos de regresión logística. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 3.089 escolares (52% chicas). La prevalencia de exceso de peso fue del 26,1% en chicos (6,2% obesidad) y del 20,6% en chicas (3,7% obesidad). En ambos sexos, el sobrepeso se asoció a una menor edad, menor frecuencia de desayunar, estar realizando una dieta para adelgazar y menor ingesta de alimentos menos saludables. Realizar dieta para adelgazar y una menor ingesta de alimentos menos saludables también se asociaron a la obesidad en ambos sexos. En chicos, además, la obesidad se asoció positivamente al sedentarismo. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados reflejan la magnitud del sobrepeso y la obesidad como problema de salud pública y confirman la necesidad de la toma de desayuno para prevenir el exceso de peso. Además, permiten ampliar el conocimiento sobre los factores asociados al sobrepeso y obesidad para mejorar los programas de promoción de la salud en escolares ya existentes

INTRODUCTION: Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day in an equilibrated diet. Skipping breakfast has been associated with overweight. This study aimed to describe overweight and obesity among high school students in Barcelona and to analyze their association with eating habits and sedentary behaviors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2008 on a representative sample of high-school students in Barcelona (Spain). Overweight and obesity were defined using Body Mass Index (BMI), which was calculated from objective measurements. The prevalences of overweight and obesity were determined, and their association with eating habits, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity was analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 3,089 students were analyzed (52% girls). The prevalence of overweight was 26.1% in boys (6.2% obese) and 20.6% in girls (3.7% obese). In both sexes, overweight was associated with being younger, having breakfast less often, being on a diet, and with a lower frequency of unhealthy food intake. Being on a diet and a lower unhealthy food intake were related to obesity in both sexes. Among boys, obesity was also associated with sedentary behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that overweight and obesity are a serious public health problem and confirm the importance of breakfast to prevent overweight. Moreover, these results allow us to expand our knowledge on the factors associated with overweight and obesity in order to improve current school preventive programs

[Eating habits, sedentary behaviors and overweight and obesity among adolescents in Barcelona (Spain)]. / Hábitos alimentarios, conductas sedentarias y sobrepeso y obesidad en adolescentes de Barcelona.

INTRODUCTION: Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day in an equilibrated diet. Skipping breakfast has been associated with overweight. This study aimed to describe overweight and obesity among high school students in Barcelona and to analyze their association with eating habits and sedentary behaviors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2008 on a representative sample of high-school students in Barcelona (Spain). Overweight and obesity were defined using Body Mass Index (BMI), which was calculated from objective measurements. The prevalences of overweight and obesity were determined, and their association with eating habits, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity was analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 3,089 students were analyzed (52% girls). The prevalence of overweight was 26.1% in boys (6.2% obese) and 20.6% in girls (3.7% obese). In both sexes, overweight was associated with being younger, having breakfast less often, being on a diet, and with a lower frequency of unhealthy food intake. Being on a diet and a lower unhealthy food intake were related to obesity in both sexes. Among boys, obesity was also associated with sedentary behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that overweight and obesity are a serious public health problem and confirm the importance of breakfast to prevent overweight. Moreover, these results allow us to expand our knowledge on the factors associated with overweight and obesity in order to improve current school preventive programs.

[Attitudes and preventive behaviours adopted during the (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus epidemic in Spain]. / Actitudes y comportamientos preventivos durante la pandemia de gripe (H1N1) 2009 en España.

BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2009 the emergence of new influenza virus (H1N1) 2009 caused widespread alarm. The objective of this study is to describe the knowledge and risk perceptions towards the disease and its vaccine and the preventive measures adopted by the population. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted in two rounds with quotas for age, sex, Autonomous Regions and size of municipality. Respondents were asked regarding perceptions, preventive measures, vaccination related to 2009 influenza (H1N1) 2009 and sociodemographic data. Proportional quota sampling based on age, sex, province and size of municipality was used. We performed a descriptive analysis of the main study variables and applied the chi-square test to study the statistical analysis for categorical data. RESULTS: Overall we obtained 1,627 valid responses. 823 (51,6%) were women, 502 (30.9%) were between 18 and 34 years old and 580 (35.6%) were between 35 and 55 years old. 729 (49,1%) were unskilled, manual workers, and 857 (52,7%) were living in cities larger than 50,000 inhabitants. Only 15,7 % declared to feel at risk to get influenza, and this proportion was much lower (3,9%) in the second wave, after the epidemic peak. Overall, more than 80% (n=1353) felt that unnecessary social alarm had been generated (n=1353). 1.253 (77%) of the participants adopted at least one preventive measure. Respiratory hygiene (n=951 58,5%) and hand washing (n= 624 38,4%). were the most common preventive measures adopted. CONCLUSIONS: The main adopted measures were those recommended by the government.