scholarly journals Children’s and Families’ Determinants of Health-Related Behaviors in an Italian Primary School Sample: The “Seven Days for My Health” Project

Author(s):  
Francesco Sanmarchi ◽  
Francesco Esposito ◽  
Sofia Marini ◽  
Alice Masini ◽  
Susan Scrimaglia ◽  
...  

Childhood obesity is an established health problem, and there is a growing need for health promotion interventions focused on healthy behaviors in collaboration with parents and schools. The Mediterranean diet (MD) could help to tackle obesity, but it is essential to maintain a good level of physical activity (PA) and limit time spent in sedentary activities (ST). To explore family determinants, adherence to the MD and PA levels as potential predictors of a child’s health-related behaviors, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of 368 Italian primary school children with a mean age of 8.95 years (SD = 1.43). Data were collected from May to June 2017 using a weekly diary, an interactive tool to assess the child’s and parents’ lifestyle. The child’s degree of adherence to the MD was calculated using the KIDMED index. Adherence to the MD was high, medium and poor in 5.2%, 62.5% and 32.3% of children, respectively. Higher maternal educational level was positively associated with children’s MD and PA (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated to ST. Maternal fruit and vegetable consumption was positively related to the MD and negatively related to ST (p < 0.05). Maternal PA was positively associated with the MD (p < 0.001). Paternal PA, and fruit and vegetable consumption, were positively associated with children’s PA (p < 0.05). Our results underline the need for future studies, mainly focused on school-based and family-based interventions, to promote healthy lifestyles and nutritional habits.

2021 ◽  
pp. e000205
Author(s):  
Richard Hayhoe ◽  
Boika Rechel ◽  
Allan B Clark ◽  
Claire Gummerson ◽  
S J Louise Smith ◽  
...  

BackgroundPoor mental well-being is a major issue for young people and is likely to have long-term negative consequences. The contribution of nutrition is underexplored. We, therefore, investigated the association between dietary choices and mental well-being among schoolchildren.MethodsData from 7570 secondary school and 1253 primary school children in the Norfolk Children and Young People Health and Well-being Survey, open to all Norfolk schools during October 2017, were analysed. Multivariable linear regression was used to measure the association between nutritional factors and mental well-being assessed by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale for secondary school pupils, or the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale for primary school pupils. We adjusted all analyses for important covariates including demographic, health variables, living/home situation and adverse experience variables.ResultsIn secondary school analyses, a strong association between nutritional variables and well-being scores was apparent. Higher combined fruit and vegetable consumption was significantly associated with higher well-being: well-being scores were 3.73 (95% CI 2.94 to 4.53) units higher in those consuming five or more fruits and vegetables (p<0.001; n=1905) compared with none (n=739). The type of breakfast or lunch consumed was also associated with significant differences in well-being score. Compared with children consuming a conventional type of breakfast (n=5288), those not eating any breakfast had mean well-being scores 2.73 (95% CI 2.11 to 3.35) units lower (p<0.001; n=1129) and those consuming only an energy drink had well-being scores 3.14 (95% CI 1.20 to 5.09) units lower (p=0.002; n=91). Likewise, children not eating any lunch had well-being scores 2.95 (95% CI 2.22 to 3.68) units lower (p<0.001; 860) than those consuming a packed lunch (n=3744). In primary school analyses, the type of breakfast or lunch was associated with significant differences in well-being scores in a similar way to those seen in secondary school data, although no significant association with fruit and vegetable intake was evident.ConclusionThese findings suggest that public health strategies to optimise the mental well-being of children should include promotion of good nutrition.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1142-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Koui ◽  
Russell Jago

AbstractObjectiveTo examine whether the self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption of Greek primary-school children is associated with the home availability of fruit and vegetables.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingFive primary schools in the city of Pyrgos in south-west Greece.SubjectsOne hundred and sixty-seven students in fifth and sixth grades.MethodsFruit and vegetable consumption was assessed using an FFQ. Home availability of fruit and vegetables was assessed using a modified version of a US home availability questionnaire. Participant BMI was assessed and parental education obtained by self-report. Hierarchical regression models that took account of the clustering of participants in schools were used to examine the relationship between consumption and availability after controlling for parental education and BMI.ResultsRegression analyses showed that home availability of fruit was a significant predictor of consumption (β= 0·524,Z= 9·77,P< 0·001) in a model that explained 46 % of the overall variance. Home availability of vegetables was a significant predictor of vegetable intake (β= 0·378,Z= 6·23,P< 0·001) in a model that explained 29 % of the overall variance.ConclusionHome availability of fruit and vegetables was associated with consumption among Greek primary-school children. The association between home availability of fruit and intake was higher than the associations that have been reported in other samples. Results support focusing on the home availability of fruit and vegetables as a potential mediator of consumption that could be manipulated as a means of increasing fruit and vegetable intake among children.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 315-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mullie ◽  
P. Clarys ◽  
D. De Ridder ◽  
P. Deriemaeker ◽  
N. Duvigneaud ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Christine Vita Gloria Purba ◽  
Alhidayati Alhidayati ◽  
Riri Maharani ◽  
Lia Indriyani Hutabarat

Background; Based on the results of the 2013 Ministry of Health's Basic Health Research in children aged 10 years and above who consumed less fruit and vegetables with a yield of 93.5%. Less fruits and vegetables consumption will inhibit the growth and development of children and increase the risk of disease. Objectives; To determined the determination of fruit and vegetable consumption in students of Elementary School 130 Pekanbaru City in 2018. Material and Method; type of research used analytic survey used cross sectional study. This research was carried out in Elementary School 130 Pekanbaru City. The sample of this study was students of class v and vi in Elementary School 130 Pekanbaru City who were taken by exhaustic sampling with a total of 113 samples. Results; there was a relationship between pleasure with a P value = 0,000 and POR = 9,200 (CI = 2,756-32,853), the role of parents in relation to vegetables with P value = 0.02 and POR = 4.163 (CI = 1.590-10,898), menu variation with P value = 0.003 and POR = 4.218 (CI = 1.549-11,485) with the help of fruit and vegetable consumption. There was no relationship between knowledge with P value = 0.792 and POR = 807 (CI = 340-1199), peer support with P value = 0.410 and POR = 1.479 (CI = 581-3,761). Conclusion; For mothers to pay attention to the intake of fruit and vegetables for children, be more creative to process food for children.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Mindo Lupiana ◽  
Sadiman Sadiman

<em>Indonesian people's fruit consumption is still relatively low compared to other countries that do not have the resources to produce fruits. <strong>Purpose:</strong> this study was to determine the factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school students. <strong>Method</strong><strong>s:</strong> This research method uses a cross sectional design. The research population was all students in class V totaling 123 students and the study sample was 100 students who were determined using simple random sampling. This research was conducted in Negeri 1 Rajabasa Raya Bandar Lampung City. Data processing in this study was univariate and bivariate using the chi square test. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that the factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption were preference (p = 0.001), knowledge (p = 0,000) and attitude (p = 000). The unrelated variable is the availability at home (p = 0.813). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Factors that increase consumption of fruit and vegetables in elementary school students are preference, good knowledge, and supportive attitude. Socialization needs to be done to increase knowledge about the benefits and effects of less consumption of fruit and vegetables, put up a poster media about the benefits and effects of less consumption of fruits and vegetables.</em>


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