Assessment of dietary habits, attitudes and knowledge about nutrition of fourth grade primary school pupils in Varaždin County

Djetinjstvo nije samo glavni period rasta, nego je i vrijeme formiranja prehrambenih navika. Prehrambene navike stečene u dječjoj dobi najčešće ostaju nepromijenjene i u odrasloj dobi te su važan čimbenik dobrog zdravlja kroz cijeli život. Prekomjerna tjelesna masa i pretilost kao glavne manifestacije neprimjerene prehrane i nedovoljne tjelesne aktivnosti poprimila su obilježja globalne epidemije. Cilj rada je usporediti prehrambene navike te stavove i znanja o prehrani učenika četvrtih razreda osnovnih škola Varaždinske županije. Istraživanje je provedeno ispunjavanjem anonimnog jednokratnog upitnika, u sklopu edukativnih radionica. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 458 učenika, 220 djevojčica i 238 dječaka, odnosno 163 učenika iz gradskih osnovnih škola i 295 učenika iz škola u ruralnim sredinama. Rezultati pokazuju da 50,2 % učenika ima 4-5 obroka dnevno dok topli, kuhani obrok svaki dan u tjednu ima 62,3 % učenika. 40,8 % učenika ima redovito zajutrak, a voće više puta dnevno jede 63,5 % učenika. Učenici najčešće piju vodu (77,7 %),dok slatkiše svakodnevno jede 42,1 % učenika. Udio pothranjenih učenika je 2,6 %, učenika normalne tjelesne mase 71,8 %,učenika prekomjerne tjelesne mase 15,7 % i pretilih učenika 9,9 %. Udio učenika s prekomjernom tjelesnom masom i pretilih učenika je zabrinjavajuće visok. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju utjecaj prehrambenih navika na status uhranjenosti djece.Childhood is not only the main period of growth, but also the time of formation of dietary habits. Dietary habits acquired during childhood often remain unchanged in adult age and they are an important factor of good health through life. Overweight and obesity as the main manifestations of inadequate nutrition and insufficient physical activity have taken on the characteristics of a global epidemic. The aim of the research is to compare dietary habits and attitudes and knowledge about nutrition of fourth primary school pupils in Varaždin County. The research was conducted by filling out an anonymous one-time questionnaire as part of educational workshop. The research involved 458 pupils, 220 girls and 238 boys, 163 pupils from urban primary school and 295 pupils from rural primary school. The results show that 50.2 % of pupils have 4-5 meals a day while 62.3 % of pupils have a cooked meal every day of the week. 40.8 % of pupils have breakfast regularly and 63.5 % of pupils fruit eat more than once a day. Pupils most often drink water (77.7 %), 42.1 % of pupils eat sweets every day. 2.6 % of pupils are underweight, 71.8 % are normal weight, 15.7 % are overweight and 9.9 % are obese. The proportion of overweight and obese pupils is alarmingly high. The results confirm the impact of dietary habits on child's state of nourishment