Lifestyle as primary prevention in a young population in Florence

INTRODUCTION: Well-being in Italian children is currently declining. Lifestyle, in terms of physical activity and nutrition, is one of the parameters considered in the study of well-being. AIM: The purpose of this study is to correlate the levels of physical activity, eating habits with the overweight condition in a youth population. METHODS: observational study. Data collection in elementary school, middle and high school in a district of Florence (Italy): 1776 subjects aged 8 to 18 years were enrolled. To combine physical activity level, eating habits with the overweight condition after weight and height measurement, were asked to complete two questionnaires: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and weekly frequency of consumption of food groups developed by Istituto Nazionale Ricerca Alimentazione e Nutrizione (INRAN). For the statistical analysis a two-sided p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 256 (14.4%) children result in a overweight or obese condition. Vigorous and moderate physical activity and walking were greater in normal weight children, while the time spent in a sitting position it is higher in overweight. The frequency of consumption of cereals, preserved meat, cheese, dried fruit and alcohol and higher in normal weight. CONCLUSIONS: physical activity level and eating habits not follows the guidelines for youth. Levels of physical activity are generally low, therefore reduce sedentary behaviours become essential to maintain body weight in normal range. In addition who have an higher energy expenditure may have a greater intake in high calories foods in maintaining proper energy balance. Therefore is required a higher education also by schools in order to prevent the risk of not communicable chronic diseases in adulthood.