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Variations of body composition, physical activity and caloric intake in schoolchildren during national holidays

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Abstract

Scientific literature has described that a significant body weight increase in schoolchildren occurs during some holiday periods (summer, winter, and thanksgiving holidays), harming their health. In this regard, it is thought that this phenomenon is mainly due to changes in eating habits and the variation in levels of physical activity; however, this approach has not yet been explored during national holidays (NAH) in Chile.

Purpose

To determine any changes in body composition, physical activity and caloric intake during NAH.

Methods

A total of 46 schoolchildren (24 boys, age 10.5 ± 0.5; BMI 21.7 ± 4.7) participated. Measurements were performed 2 days before and after the NAH (9 days). Weight was measured and fat percentage was established using the Slaughter formula. Levels of physical activity were measured with accelerometers, validating 3 weekdays and 1 weekend; caloric intake was established through a 24-h recall.

Results

Weight, percentage of fat and caloric intake increased significantly (250 g, 2.2 % and 733.3 kcal, respectively; p < 0.05); however, none of the variables of physical activity showed significant changes.

Conclusion

The change in caloric intake seems to be the main cause of weight and fat gain during the NAH.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the participants in the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo IRyS, Laboratorio de Motricidad Humana, Escuela de Educación Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. El Bosque 1290, Viña del Mar, Chile

    Carlos Cristi-Montero, Patricio Solís-Urra & Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez

  2. Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile

    Carlos Cristi-Montero

  3. Carrera de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Universidad Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Chile

    Cristian Munizaga, Constanza Tejos & Raúl Henríquez

  4. Universidad de León, León, Spain

    Raquel Ayala

Authors
  1. Carlos Cristi-Montero
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  2. Cristian Munizaga
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  3. Constanza Tejos
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  4. Raquel Ayala
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  5. Raúl Henríquez
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  6. Patricio Solís-Urra
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  7. Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Cristi-Montero.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was conducted in accordance with international ethical standards for research involving human subjects of the current Declaration of Helsinki of 1964 (last modified in 2013) and was approved by the local ethics committee. Previously attached document.

Informed consent

A meeting was held with the guardians of the schoolchildren, and they were informed about the objectives and procedures of the study. A signed consent for the participation of their children was required.

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Cristi-Montero, C., Munizaga, C., Tejos, C. et al. Variations of body composition, physical activity and caloric intake in schoolchildren during national holidays. Eat Weight Disord 21, 251–255 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0229-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0229-5

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