scholarly journals Assessment of Eating Habits and Perceived Benefits of Physical Activity and Body Attractiveness among Adolescents from Northeastern Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 11042
Author(s):  
Dana-Teodora Anton-Păduraru ◽  
Ioan Gotcă ◽  
Veronica Mocanu ◽  
Veronica Popescu ◽  
Maria-Liliana Iliescu ◽  
...  

The purpose of this paper was to present the results of the evaluation of 1320 adolescents from 4 high schools in Iaşi, Romania regarding their eating habits and perceived benefits of physical activity and body attractiveness after they completed an anonymous questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 18. The analysis of the nutritional status showed that over 70% of adolescents were of a normal weight. Most of them (63.56%) consumed 3–4 meals/day, with breakfast being the most skipped meal (60.53%). Compared with the boys, the girls consumed fewer whole grains, dairy products, and meat, but the girls consumed fruits and vegetables in approximately the same percentage. The adolescents studied consumed more fruits than vegetables, but the servings of fruits and vegetables consumed were not sufficient in the diets of many adolescents (39.31%). Among the adolescents, 5.68% consumed at least 2 alcoholic drinks daily, and 37.87% consumed caffeine products one or more times per week. Among the boys, 95.20% practiced regular physical activity, and 97.20% of the girls considered that the right nutrition plays a role in the prevention of obesity. The study of the self-perception profile showed that 89.8% of boys and 79.5% of girls considered that they had attractive bodies. According to the BMI, 86.7% of normal-weight adolescents and 84.8% of underweight adolescents considered themselves as having attractive bodies, while this was only considered by 73.5% of overweight and 56.7% of obese adolescents. It is necessary to introduce nutritional education in schools for the improvement of eating habits in children and adolescents. More studies are needed to appreciate the social behaviors (e.g., food intake, physical activity, and recreation time) and then develop interventions and national health programs to promote a healthy lifestyle, particularly healthy eating habits.

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Emília Martins ◽  
Rosina Fernandes ◽  
Francisco Mendes ◽  
Cátia Magalhães ◽  
Patrícia Araújo

BACKGROUND: The health-related quality of life construct (QoL) implies a relationship with eating habits (EA) and physical activity (PA). Sociodemographic and anthropometric variables (gender, age and Body Mass Index - BMI) are highlighted in the definition of healthy lifestyle habits promotion strategies. OBJECTIVE: We aim to characterize and relate PA, EA and QoL in children/youth and explore gender, age and BMI influences. METHODS: It is a non-experimental study, with 337 children/youth, ages between 8 and 17 years (12.61±2.96), mostly from the rural inland of Portugal. In data collection we used a sociodemographic and anthropometric questionnaire, a weekly register table of EA and Kid-Kindl (QoL). Statistical analysis (p <  0.05) were performed in SPSS-IBM 25. RESULTS: Lower BMI was associated with better EA (p <  0.001), PA (p <  0.05) and self-esteem (p <  0.01) and worse scores on family subscale of QoL. Female showed higher fruit intake (p <  0.05). The older has shown better results. PA is positively correlated with QoL (p <  0.01) and EA (p <  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to explore other relevant social and family dimensions, to promote intervention programs with parents, school and community, as well as healthy practices policies. The intervention in these age groups is critical for a longer-term impact in improving healthy life habits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Tympa ◽  
Vasiliki Karavida

Experiences with food preferences begin in infancy and continue to develop on children transition to solid food. Children’s food preferences are influenced by availability and familiarity with foods as well as parental modeling and health related picture books. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether picture-books regarding healthy lifestyle can influence children’s eating preferences. A questionnaire related to the use of picture-books at home and lifestyle habits was distributed to all parents. Picture-books were provided to all parents. At the same time children were allocated in two groups: the intervention group, which took part in further activities (cooking), and to a comparison group. Interviews were addressed to the parents after the program. The ethical concern included confidentiality assurance and the choice to withdraw. Findings revealed that the daily reading of books about food was increased in both groups. Most of the families of the intervention group reduced fast food and sweet consumption and increased outdoor activities. Implications on the influence of books and additional activities on promoting child attitudes on healthy food will be discussed. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0740/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>


Author(s):  
O. Marchenko ◽  
O. Kholodova ◽  
K. Zaiets

Describes a complex of methods for the implementation of scientific research, the information of those who were researched is represented, methodology and methods of the research are described.Covers a wide range of problems, in particular a comprehensive study of motivation for both physical activity (needs, interests, self-conception, performance, leisure and factors of a healthy lifestyle), and for learning and succeeding.Objective: to study gender peculiarities and differences in self-description of physical development of schoolchildren. Material: The study involved schoolchildren of 5-11 grades (n = 638), among them: young men - 282, girls - 386. Correlation analysis of self-description of subjective indexes of physical development of schoolchildren has been conducted. Results: Using the results of the testing “Self-description of physical development”. It was found out that the correlational connection of indicators of self-description of the physical development of respondents of all ages have certain gender differences. We found that general self-esteem of boys of primary school age is affected by more indicators than of the girls. Young men associate with their own self-esteem and physical qualities: coordination and flexibility. Girls associate their health with physical activity and their own physical abilities. Conclusions: The obtained results of the scientific experiment give us the right to assert the existence of age and gender differences between the indicators of self-description of boys and girls who are engaged in and not engaged in sports. The study of self-assessment of physical boys and girls of different ages helped to draw conclusions about common and different priorities of the motivational sphere of physical culture and sports in gender and age.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabián Espitia-Almeida ◽  
Martha Mora-García ◽  
Alexandra Coquel-Bru ◽  
Christian Orozco-Sánchez

Purpose This paper aims to determine the eating habits and physical activity in students of the Rafael Núñez University. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive cross-sectional study, based on the application of a survey on eating habits and physical activity. Furthermore, height, weight, hip circumference and abdominal circumference were also recorded. Findings Total, 170 students were included, 29 (17.1%) males and 141 (82.9%) females, with a mean age of 20.0 ± 5.2 years. Among the students, 22 (12.9%) were underweight, 95 (55.9%) were normal weight, 40 (23.5%) were overweight and 13 (7.7%) with obesity. Regarding eating habits, the majority preferred to consume three daily meals: breakfast 140 (82.3%), lunch 170 (100%) and dinner 96 (56.5%). Regarding fruits intake, 18 (15.9%) males reported consuming them seven days a week, and 54 (31.2 %) females reported consuming them occasionally. In physical activity, most of the population (n = 103, 60.6%) exercises with a frequency of one to three days/week. Originality/value The authors’ work is original and has not been sent to another magazine.


Author(s):  
Jana Pysna ◽  
Jiří Suchý ◽  
Ladislav Pyšný ◽  
David Cihlář ◽  
Dominika Petrů ◽  
...  

Regular physical activity is a very important factor in the healthy development of an individual and an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. However, today's population still suffers from insufficient amount of exercise caused mainly by technical progress and often inappropriate conditions for practicing sports. In relation to this, we are grappling with a steady increase in obesity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, conditions for regular physical activity became even more unfavourable, with the declaration of a state of emergency and anti-pandemic measures leading to the closure of sports grounds and sporting competitions. In our research survey, we attempted to determine whether there would be changes in physical activity and BMI before and after the situation caused by the COVID-19 disease in upper primary school pupils in the Czech Republic. Using a questionnaire survey of a sample of children (n =1456), we found that already before the pandemic, 69% of the observed sample had not met the recommended amount of physical activity and only 67% of the sample was of normal weight. After the end of the anti-pandemic measures, the observed values deteriorated even more. There was a significant decrease in children with normal weight (by 7.5%) and an increase in children with Class 1 obesity. At the same time, we saw a significant decrease in children doing sports.


Author(s):  
Rieko Okada ◽  
Kazuyo Tsushita ◽  
Kenji Wakai ◽  
Kiminori Kato ◽  
Takashi Wada ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lifestyle modification is recommended for subjects with trace proteinuria during health checkups. However, whether overall healthy lifestyle reduces the incidence of trace/positive proteinuria or rapid decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is not clarified. Methods A total of 451 534 people (277 494 men and 174 040 women) ages 20–79 years with negative proteinuria were included. The number of three healthy lifestyle factors (LFs) was assessed: noncurrent smoking, healthy eating habits (late dinner, snacking and skipping breakfast &lt;3 times/week) and body mass index &lt;25. The incidence of trace (±) and positive (≥1+) proteinuria by the dipstick method and eGFR decline ≥20% over 2 years were compared with the number of healthy LFs. Results The incidence of trace/positive proteinuria and rapid eGFR decline decreased with an increasing number of healthy LFs as follows: odds ratios (ORs) for trace proteinuria, 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86–0.96], 0.82 (0.78–0.87) and 0.72 (0.68–0.77); ORs for positive proteinuria, 0.76 (95% CI 0.67–0.86), 0.56 (0.50–0.63) and 0.46 (0.40–0.53); and ORs for an eGFR decline ≥20%, 0.93 (95% CI 0.82–1.05), 0.90 (0.79–1.02) and 0.81 (0.70–0.93) for those with one, two and three healthy LFs compared with those with none of the three healthy LFs, respectively. Overall, subjects with a healthy lifestyle showed 28, 54 and 19% reduced risk of developing trace proteinuria, positive proteinuria and eGFR decline ≥20%, respectively, compared with those with an unhealthy lifestyle after 2 years. This association was similarly observed even among subjects without hypertension (HT) or diabetes mellitus (DM). Conclusions Subjects with an overall healthy lifestyle showed a lower incidence of trace/positive proteinuria by dipstick test and rapid eGFR decline over 2 years in a nationwide general population. Thus lifestyle modification should be recommended for subjects with trace proteinuria during health checkups, even for subjects without HT or DM.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 956-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moniek van Zutphen ◽  
Hendriek C. Boshuizen ◽  
Dieuwertje E. Kok ◽  
Harm van Baar ◽  
Anne J. M. R. Geijsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose A healthy lifestyle after colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis may improve prognosis. Data related to lifestyle change in CRC survivors are inconsistent and potential interrelated changes are unknown. Methods We assessed dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and smoking among 1072 patients diagnosed with stages I–III CRC at diagnosis, 6 months and 2 years post-diagnosis. An overall lifestyle score was constructed based on the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research recommendations (range 0–7). We used linear mixed models to analyze changes in lifestyle over time. Results Participants had a mean (± SD) age of 65 ± 9 years and 43% had stage III disease. In the 2 years following CRC diagnosis, largest changes were noted for sugary drinks (− 45 g/day) and red and processed meat intake (− 62 g/week). BMI (+ 0.4 kg/m2), waist circumference (+ 2 cm), and dietary fiber intake (− 1 g/day) changed slightly. CRC survivors did not statistically significant change their mean intake of fruits and vegetables, alcohol, or ultra-processed foods nor did they change their physical activity or smoking behavior. Half of participants made simultaneous changes that resulted in improved concordance with one component as well as deteriorated concordance with another component of the lifestyle score. Overall lifestyle score changed from a mean 3.4 ± 0.9 at diagnosis to 3.5 ± 0.9 2 years post-diagnosis. Conclusions CRC survivors hardly improve their overall lifestyle after diagnosis. Implications for Cancer Survivors Given the importance of a healthy lifestyle, strategies to effectively support behavior changes in CRC survivors need to be identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Bianca Pocol ◽  
Valentina Marinescu ◽  
Antonio Amuza ◽  
Roxana-Larisa Cadar ◽  
Anda Anca Rodideal

The importance of studying the aspects related to the sustainable food consumption behaviour of students lies in the fact that, at this age, they begin to develop certain consumption patterns that will have long-term effects. The study aimed to identify the type of eating behaviour—sustainable vs. unsustainable—and the socio-demographic factors that influence it, among students in Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova. The research method was a survey based on a questionnaire administered to a sample of 2378 subjects in the 2017–2018 period. The ANOVA test and simple linear regression were used to identify the correlation between the various variables analysed. The results indicate both positive aspects, which characterise a sustainable diet—high consumption of fruits and vegetables, and negative—the adoption of a mixed diet, which will have a long-term impact on the environment. Age is a good predictor of unhealthy eating habits among students, as this behaviour leads to weight gain. Gender, number of household members, rural/urban and country residence are also influencing factors for food consumption behaviour. Eating while standing and having the last meal of the day after 23:00 are practices that also have negative consequences for health. Conducting campaigns to educate students on the adoption of sustainable food consumption is necessary for all three countries to empower them to choose a healthy lifestyle.


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