School nutrition as a possible preventive factor against the development of metabolic syndrome in children

Zdrava prehrana je ključna v otroštvu, saj vpliva na telesni in kognitivni razvoj otroks privzgojo zdravih prehranskih navad vplivamo tudi na prehranjevanje kasneje v življenju. Namen magistrske naloge je bil pridobiti vpogled v prehranske navade otrok, šolsko prehrano in vpliv le-te na povečano tveganje za razvoj metabolnega sindroma (ptMS). Raziskava se je pričela jeseni 2017 in je zajemala 63 otrok zaključnih razredov petih osnovnih šol po Sloveniji in njihovih staršev. Dodatno smo jih razdelili glede na tip osnovne šoleEKO (vključene v mednarodni program Ekošola) in običajne šole. Raziskovalni del je zajemal telefonsko anketiranje enega od staršev in otroka, kjer so odgovarjali na sociodemografska vprašanja ter vprašalnik o pogostosti uživanja živil. Antropometrične podatke smo pridobili iz športnovzgojnih kartonov, naknadno smo izračunali delež telesne maščobe. Ugotovili smo, da učenke in učenci EKO šol niso imeli statistično značilno nižjega indeksa telesne mase (p=0,699 in p=0,789) ter odstotka maščevja (BFP) (p=0,920 in p=0,504) od učencev in učenk običajnih šol, vendar so imeli fantje v primerjavi z dekleti statistično značilno nižji BFP (p=0,000). Učenci iz EKO šol so zaužili več zelenjave (p=0,004) kot učenci iz običajnih šol, medtem ko hipoteze o več zaužitega sadja (p=0,872) in manj sladkorja (p=0,761) nismo potrdili. Ne glede na spol in tip šole, vnos sladkorja v raziskavo vključenih otrok povprečno predstavlja 15 % dnevnega energijskega vnosa. 70,0 % otrok dnevno zajtrkuje, 87,3 % pa jih ima vsaj štiri obroke dnevno. Po izračunu tri-ponderalnega indeksa (kilogram telesne mase/m3) smo ugotovili, da je imelo ptMS kar 60,3 % otrok, od tega več fantov (60,5 %) kot deklet (39,5 %), vendar je treba opozoriti, da se je uporabljena metodologija razlikovala od prvotno objavljene. Statistično značilno višji indeks maščevja (kilogram telesne maščobe/m3) ne glede na tip šole je bil višji pri dekletih kot fantih. (p=0,030). Nismo uspeli dokazati, da bi imel tip šole vpliv na ptMS. Za bolj natančno in realno oceno vpliva šolske prehrane na pojav MS pri slovenskih otrocih bi bilo potrebno izpeljati klinično študijo z več udeleženci in večjim številom vključenih osnovnih šol.A healthy diet is crucial in childhood because it affects the physical and cognitive development of children. By promoting healthy eating habits, we also influence healthy nutrition choices later in life. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into children’s eating habits, school nutrition and its impact on the increased risk of developing of metabolic syndrome (ptMS). The survey began in the fall of 2017 and included 63 children of the final grade of five elementary schools across Slovenia and their parents. We further divided them by the type of school: ECO (participate in an international program of ECO schools) schools and others. The research included telephone survey of one of the parents and the child answering questions from a socio-demographic and a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric data were obtained from sport records and fat ratio was calculated subsequently. Boys and girls who attended ECO schools did not have significantly lower BMI (p=0,699 and p=0,789) and fat percentage (BFP) (p=0,920 and p=0,504) than those who attended other schools, but boys did have significantly lower BFP than girls (p=0,000). However, children in ECO schools consumed more vegetables (p=0,004), whereas the hypothesis of more fruit consumption (p=0,872) and less sugar consumption (p=0,076) was not confirmed. Regardless of the school type and gender, sugar intake on average represented 15% of daily energy intake. 70.0 % of children had breakfast daily, 87,3 % has at least four meals a day. After calculating tri-ponderal mass index (kilogram body weight/m3), we found that 60,3% of children were at risk of MS, more boys (60,5 %) than girls (39,5 %), although it has to be stressed that the methodology used differed from the originally published. Girls had statistically higher fat mass index (kilogram fat mass/ m3) than boys (p=0,030). We have not statistically demonstrated that school type has an effect on ptMS. For more accurate and realistic assessment of the impact of school nutrition on the occurrence of MS in Slovenian children, it would be necessary to conduct a clinical study with more participants and a larger number of primary schools involved