Body composition in elementary school and its relationship with nutritional habits and formal practice sports activity

Abstract

Objectives

To present the results of a longitudinal study of six years with a group of children throughout the primary stage of education based on the relationships between body composition, frequency of food consumption, level of physical activity and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6 year-old children.

Method

Monthly weight and height were measured, body mass index (BMI) was calculated and two questionnaires were administered: The Kidmed questionnaire of adherence to the Mediterranean diet for the frequency of food consumption, and the PAQ -C questionnaire for physical activity.

Data corresponding to the regression equation of Cole and percentiles according to the tables of CDC Atlanta and the Foundation Orbegozo values were obtained from the BMI. Twice a year, a single frequency bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and a full kinanthropometry were assessed and measurement of energy expenditure was conducted over two consecutive days with an ArmBand calorimeter.

Results

The main findings of this first year are as follows: Data obtained by BIA and kinanthropometry show a good correlation. The questionnaire data shows that KIDMED does not correlate with anthropometric data or BMI. Data from the PAQ- C and calorimetry show a higher level of activity in boys than in girls even when adjusted to the total body mass.

Conclusions

The differences between the three diagnostic criteria of obesity are obvious, so that our global data overweight range between 29 and 44.9% for boys and between 20.3 and 32.4% for girls, depending on the criteria used.