Nutritional habits and physical activity in primary school children: data from the longitudinal study “OBIN” 2011-2017.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the habits of nutrition and physical activity in a comparative way between boys and girls, in a longitudinal study to six years and using calorimetry techniques to assess the level of physical activity and to be able to contrast with the information by the classic questionnaires.

Method: Throughout six primary courses, 155 children (86 girls and 69 boys) completed a physical activity questionnaire and a Mediterranean diet questionnaire. Total energy expenditure (GET) and activity (GEA) were measured annually for 48 hours with an ArmBand® device in 41 subjects (25 girls and 16 boys).

Results: GEA of 600 kcal / day in girls and 900 kcal / day in boys were recorded (40 and 50% of GET respectively). Since ArmBand considers GEA to be all expenses above 2.5 METs, the children in the study had energy costs above 2.5 METs during 40 and 50% of the time respectively. The children perform 18,000 daily steps and the girls 14,000. All this represents a level of activity that we can qualify as moderate-high.

Conclusions: Physical activity measured by calorimetry shows better information than questionnaires. The level of activity is clearly higher in boys than in girls and it remains stable during the 6 years. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet can be described as medium, needing improvements.