NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND POSSIBLE PREVENTABLE FACTORS AFFECTING THIS STATUS IN FIFTH-GRADERS IN BJELOVAR-BILOGORA COUNTY

Prehrambene navike i stavovi formiraju se u ranom djetinjstvu, a usvojena znanja i vještine prenose se na sljedeće generacije. Cilj rada je ispitati stanje uhranjenosti i prehrambene navike učenika petih razreda osnovnih škola na području Bjelovarskobilogorske županije te ih povezati s određenim socioekonomskim i demografskim čimbenicima obitelji (mjesto stanovanja, obrazovanje roditelja, provođenje slobodnog vremena). Ispitivanje je provedeno tijekom obveznog sistematskog pregleda učenika petih razreda prigodom kojeg su učenici anonimno ispunjavali posebno osmišljeni upitnik nakon kojeg im je izmjerena tjelesna masa i visina. U anketi je sudjelovalo 466 učenika, što je 40,5 % ove populacije. Rezultati pokazuju da je, prema kriterijima Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (WHO) 15,0 % pothranjene, 56,0 % normalno uhranjene i 29,0% prekomjerno teške i pretile djece. Dnevno 54,5 % djece ima tri obroka, od čega su dva kuhana. Prosječno 4,7 % svakodnevno jede brzu hranu, a 11,6 % pije gazirana pića, dok meso jede 24,7 %, voće i povrće 55,8 %, slatkiše 21,9 %, mlijeko 56,9 %. Organiziranom aktivnosti van škole bavi se 57,6 % učenika, dok pred televizorom 4 i više sati provede 11,8 % učenika, a 7,8 % igranjem 3 sata i više od kojih je 77,3 % sedentarnog tipa. Istraživanjem je utvrđen značajan udio prekomjerno teške i pretile djece u županiji, koja imaju loše prehrambene navike i nisku fi zičku aktivnost uz povećan udio sedentarnog načina života.Eating habits and attitudes are formed in early childhood, and acquired knowledge and skills are transferred to the next generation. The aim of this study was to examine nutritional status and dietary habits of elementary school fi fth-graders in Bjelovar-Bilogora County and connect them with certain socioeconomic and demographic family factors (residence, parental education, and activity). The survey was conducted during the obligatory systematic examination. The students fi lled out an anonymous questionnaire specially designed for this purpose and then they had their body weight and height measured. The survey included 466 students, which made 40.5% of the population. The results showed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, 15.0% of study subjects to be underweight, 56.0% had normal weight and 29.0% were overweight and obese children. Furthermore, 54.5% of the children had three meals per day, two of these cooked. About 4.7% of study subjects reported taking fast food daily and 11.6% drank soda. Daily consumption of meat was reported by 24.7%, fruit and vegetables by 55.8%, sweets by 21.9% and milk by 56.9% of the subjects. Organized activities outside the school were reported by 57.6% of students, whereas 11.8% of subjects spent 4 or more hours watching TV and 7.8% playing for 3 hours and more, 77.3% of these of sedentary types. The research identifi ed a signifi cant proportion of overweight and obese children in the county, who had poor eating habits and low physical activity, with an increased proportion of sedentary lifestyle