Physical activity at school and leisure, eating habits, sleeping habits and socio - economic characteristics of primary school children in the region of Thrace

Aim of this dissertation was to investigate the physical activity at school and in leisure time of school children aged 11-12 years in the region of Thrace, NE Greece. Additional aims were to record eating habits and sleep characteristics and to explore associations with socio-demographic indices.METHOD:This cross-sectional study enrolled children attending 53 public primary schools of the region. Their parents answered an anonymous questionnaire addressing the aims of this study, while measurements of height, weight and waist circumference of the children were performed. Indices like BMI, zBMI, and WtHR were calculated.RESULTS:The study included 1929 children (53% girls). Boys had a higher degree of preference for physical activity than girls. The average BMI of children was 20.36±3.58 kg /m2 with the prevalence of overweight and obesity being higher in boys compared to girls (p = 0.001). In addition, boys had higher values in both zBMI (p <0.001) and WtHR (p <0.001). The prevalence of central obesity in the whole sample was 20.3%, significantly higher in boys (22.8%) compared to girls (18.0%). No statistically significant correlation was observed between the hours of participation in organized activity and the three categories of BMI, both for boys (p = 0.250) and for girls (p = 0.067).Hours of participation in organized physical activity in boys had a significant effect only on the WtHR (p = 0.032), while in girls on the waist circumference (p = 0.013), BMI (p = 0.019) and WtHR (p = 0.004).It was noted that 29.3% of children consumed fast food at least once a week. In terms of sleep, 71.1% of children had adequate sleep on school days and 96.8% on weekends (at least 9 hours per day). In addition, 23.9% of children reported at least one of the sleep disorders examined.Significant correlations were observed between the place of residence, the educational level of the parents and their frequency of exercise with both organized physical activity and free play of the children. The father's educational level was significantly correlated with the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to early sleep initiation.CONCLUSIONAmong schoolchildren in the region of Thrace, NE Greece, boys were found to be more frequently overweight or obese or with central obesity, despite the stated preference for exercise activities, compared to girls.Socio-demographic factors and family patterns can play an important role in establishing a healthy lifestyle by increasing physical activity and proper nutrition.Σκοπός της παρούσας διατριβής ήταν η διερεύνηση της φυσικής δραστηριότητας στο σχολείο και στον ελεύθερο χρόνο παιδιών, ηλικίας 11-12 ετών, μαθητών σε δημοτικά σχολεία της Θράκης. Επιπλέον, καταγράφηκαν διατροφικές συνήθειες και χαρακτηριστικά του ύπνου και έγιναν συσχετίσεις με δείκτες κοινωνικό-οικονομικής κατάστασης των οικογενειών τους.ΜΕΘΟΔΟΣ:Πρόκειται για επιδημιολογική μελέτη επιπολασμού που περιελάμβανε παιδιά που φοιτούσαν σε 53 δημόσια δημοτικά σχολεία στην περιοχή της Θράκης. Μετά τις σχετικές εγκρίσεις, οι γονείς τους απάντησαν ανώνυμο ερωτηματολόγιο σχετικό με τους σκοπούς της έρευνας ενώ πραγματοποιήθηκαν μετρήσεις ύψους, βάρους και περιφέρειας μέσης των παιδιών. ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ:Στη μελέτη συμπεριλήφθησαν συνολικά 1929 παιδιά (53% κορίτσια). Τα αγόρια σε σύγκριση με τα κορίτσια είχαν υψηλότερο βαθμό προτίμησης σε δραστηριότητες με κίνηση. Ο μέσος ΔΜΣ των παιδιών ήταν 20.36±3.58 kg/m2, με τον επιπολασμό του υπέρβαρου και της παχυσαρκίας να είναι μεγαλύτερος στα αγόρια σε σύγκριση με τα κορίτσια (p=0.001). Επιπλέον, τα αγόρια είχαν μεγαλύτερες τιμές τόσο στο zBMI (p<0.001) όσο και στο δείκτη WtHR (p