Background
Methods
Study population
Dietary assessment
Assessment of Mediterranean diet patterns
Physical activity assessment
Anthropometry and obesity definition
Socio-demographic variables
Statistical analysis
Results
Demographic characteristics of the participants
Boys | Girls | P | |
---|---|---|---|
Age
| 10.68 (0.96) | 10.67 (0.99) | 0.827 |
Grade
| 0.705 | ||
4
th
| 183 (34.5) | 195 (32.1) | |
5
th
| 174 (32.8) | 206 (33.9) | |
6
th
| 174 (32.8) | 206 (33.9) | |
Place of living
| 0.602 | ||
Urban
| 291 (54.8) | 342 (56.3) | |
Rural
| 240 (45.2) | 265 (43.7) | |
Geomorphologic characteristics of residence
| 0.590 | ||
Plain
| 415 (78.2) | 466 (76.8) | |
Sub-mountainous
| 36 (6.8) | 51 (8.4) | |
Mountainous
| 80 (15.1) | 90 (14.8) | |
Socioeconomic level
| 0.772 | ||
High
| 87 (21.2) | 111 (21.9) | |
Average
| 171 (41.7) | 219 (43.3) | |
Low
| 152 (37.1) | 34.8 (176) | |
Ethnicity
| 0.667 | ||
Greek
| 377 (88.7) | 461 (88.5) | |
Foreigners
| 14 (3.3) | 13 (2.5) | |
Mixed
| 34 (8.0) | 47 (9.0) | |
Type of residence
| 0.263 | ||
Apartment
| 65(12.9) | 84(14.3) | |
House with a yard
| 403(80.3) | 476(81.1) | |
House without a yard
| 34(6.8) | 27(4.6) | |
Residence in a refugee camp
| 31(6.4) | 43(7.6) | 0.472 |
Number of inhabitants in home
| 0.518 | ||
≤ 3–4
| 191(42.2) | 227(41.1) | |
5–6
| 218 (48.1) | 281(50.9) | |
≥ 7
| 44(9.7) | 44(4.4) | |
Body Mass Index Classification- Children
| 0.081 | ||
Normal weight
| 277 (75.1) | 358 (78.9) | |
Overweight
| 70 (19.0) | 83 (18.3) | |
Obese
| 22 (6.0) | 13 (2.9) | |
Parental obesity status
| 0.085 | ||
Both lean
| 131 (33.3) | 137 (29.2) | |
Both obese
| 90 (22.9) | 87 (18.6) | |
Father obese/mother lean
| 146(37.2) | 203(43.3) | |
Father lean/mother obese
| 26(6.6) | 42(9.0) |
Lifestyle characteristics of the participants
Food groups | Frequency categories | Boys | Girls | p* |
---|---|---|---|---|
N
| 533 | 607 | ||
DAIRY
| ||||
Milk
| ≥ 7 times/week | 88.0 | 89.1 | 0.602 |
Semi Skimmed milk
| ≥ 7 times/week | 66.0 | 69.5 | 0.217 |
Yogurt
| ≥ 7 times/week | 45.1 | 42.2 | 0.346 |
MEAT & ALTERNATIVES
| ||||
Eggs
| ≥ 2 times/week | 52.8 | 44.8 | 0.010 |
Meat (excluding poultry, mixed dishes)
| ≥ 2 times/week | 29.0 | 18.6 | <0.001 |
Poultry & rabbit meat
| ≥ 2 times/week | 25.3 | 15.1 | <0.001 |
Delicatessen
| ≥ 5 times/week | 28.2 | 16.2 | <0.001 |
2–4 times/week | 18.6 | 15.1 | ||
≤ 4 times/month | 53.2 | 68.7 | ||
Fish & seafood
| ≥ 2 times/week | 30.0 | 20.6 | <0.001 |
Legumes
| ≥ 5 times/week | 18.1 | 11.1 | 0.005 |
2–4 times/week | 12.7 | 14.1 | ||
≤ 4 times/month | 69.2 | 74.8 | ||
Nuts
| ≥ 2 times/week | 29.3 | 18.2 | <0.001 |
CEREALS, GRAINS &PRODUCTS
| ||||
White bread
| ≥ 7 times/week | 70.0 | 69.9 | 0.960 |
Whole grain bread
| ≥ 7 times/week | 21.2 | 19.5 | 0.502 |
Breakfast cereals
| ≥ 5 times/week | 51.2 | 48.2 | 0.324 |
Puff pastry
| ≥ 5 times/week | 21.3 | 13.4 | <0.001 |
2–4 times/week | 12.7 | 9.4 | ||
≤ 4 times/month | 66.0 | 77.3 | ||
Pasta
| ≥ 5 times/week | 14.0 | 10.6 | 0.100 |
Bulgur
| ≥ 5 times/week | 35.1 | 31.8 | 0.260 |
Rice dishes
| ≥ 5 times/week | 32.6 | 31.5 | 0.695 |
FRUITS
| ||||
Fresh fruit juices
| ≥ 7 times/week | 35.8 | 36.3 | 0.867 |
Fruits
| ≥ 2/day | 73.8 | 74.2 | 0.860 |
VEGETABLES
| ||||
Vegetables
| ≥ 2/day | 46.1 | 41.8 | 0.159 |
Fresh legumes, other seasonal consumed vegetables
| ≥ 5 times/week | 12.1 | 7.4 | 0.010 |
Potatoes & potatoes dishes
| ≥ 2 times/week | 41.7 | 35.0 | 0.028 |
Olives
| ≥ 5 times/week | 31.1 | 22.4 | 0.001 |
OTHER GROUPINGS
| ||||
Potato chips
| ≥ 7 times/week | 25.1 | 22.0 | 0.222 |
Biscuits
| ≥ 7 times/week | 48.6 | 51.4 | 0.521 |
Candy
| ≥ 7 times/week | 21.8 | 15.1 | 0.005 |
Soda
| ≥ 7 times/week | 31.3 | 21.9 | <0.001 |
Chocolates
| ≥ 7 times/week | 25.1 | 21.1 | 0.121 |
≥ 5 times/week | 45.6 | 43.3 | 0.442 | |
Pizza
| ≥ 2 times/week | 45.7 | 41.1 | 0.123 |
Low glycemic index foods**
| ≥ 3 times/week | 59.2 | 67.4 | 0.031 |
Medium glycemic index foods
| ≥ 3 times/week | 66.1 | 65.3 | 0.854 |
High glycemic index foods
| ≥ 3 times/week | 60.9 | 58.4 | 0.472 |
Quality of diet (as assessed by KIDMED score)
| 0.097 | |||
Poor quality diet: score 0–3
| 44.8 | 55.2 | ||
Average quality diet: score 4–7
| 40.9 | 59.1 | ||
Good quality diet: score 8–12
| 55.4 | 44.6 |
Boys | Girls | P* | |
---|---|---|---|
N
| 533 | 607 | |
Intake of breakfast ≥ 5 times/week vs. ≤ 4 times/week(%) | 81.3 | 75.3 | 0.019 |
18.7 | 24.7 | ||
Number of main meals & snacks daily ≤ 3/day vs. ≥ 4/day(%) | 39.1 | 35.9 | 0.301 |
60.9 | 64.1 | ||
Number of snacks per day ≤ 1 per day vs. ≥ 2 per day(%) | 26.5 | 22.3 | 0.116 |
73.5 | 77.7 | ||
Eating outside home or order fast food in past 2 days 0 times vs. ≥ 1 times(%) | 54.2 | 60.8 | 0.033 |
45.8 | 39.2 | ||
Have meals with family ≥ 5 times/week vs. ≤ 4 times/week(%) | 84.6 | 82.1 | 0.261 |
15.4 | 17.9 | ||
Have meals alone ≥ 5 times/week vs. ≤ 4 times/week(%) | 41.8 | 33.0 | 0.030 |
58.2 | 67.0 | ||
Have lunch at school 4 times/week vs. ≤ 3 times/week(%) | 14.9 | 10.5 | 0.032 |
85.1 | 89.5 | ||
Eat fried food ≥ 3 times/week vs. ≤ 2 times/week(%) | 49.4 | 44.8 | 0.112 |
50.6 | 55.2 | ||
Eat grilled food ≥ 3 times/week vs. ≤ 2 times/week(%) | 41.4 | 36.7 | 0.116 |
58.6 | 63.3 |
Physical activity levels and sedentary patterns levels
Percentage | Boys | Girls | p |
---|---|---|---|
Have private lessons > 2 hours/day | 51.8 | 55.1 | 0.280 |
Do homework ≥ 2 hours/day | 28.6 | 38.5 | <0.001 |
Watch TV- DVD ≥ 2 hours/day | 65.8 | 61.4 | 0.280 |
Watch TV- DVD ≥ 2 hours in weekend days | 77.1 | 79.2 | 0.700 |
Play electronic games or use computers ≥ 1 hours/day | 69.8 | 41.5 | <0.001 |
Play electronic games or use computers ≥ 1 hours in weekend days | 74.2 | 50.3 | <0.001 |
Did not participate at all in sports the previous day | 34.6 | 65.4 | <0.001 |
Did not participate at all in any kind of physical activity the previous day | 22.6 | 24.8 | 0.385 |
Do any kind of home chores at least 1/2 hour/day | 73.3 | 93.2 | <0.001 |
Do in any kind of out of home chores at least 1 hour/week | 37.3 | 32.3 | 0.086 |
Mean (SD) Hours | |||
Have private lessons at weekdays | 2.56 (1.93) | 2.62 (1.83) | 0.151 |
Do homework at weekdays | 1.70 (1.19) | 1.95 (1.32) | 0.079 |
Watched TV-video the day before | 2.42 (2.06) | 2.32 (1.96) | 0.317 |
Watched TV-video at weekends | 4.25 (2.63) | 4.18 (2.64) | 0.806 |
Played with electronic games, computer the day before | 1.15 (1.73) | 0.64 (1.16) | <0.0001 |
Played with electronic games, computer at weekends | 2.79 (2.68) | 1.59 (2.05) | <0.001 |
Engaged in sports after school the day before | 1.32 (1.58) | 0.66 (1.06) | <0.0001 |
Engaged in physical activity after school the day before | 1.50 (1.74) | 1.17 (1.35) | 0.001 |
Engaged in home chores/week | 2.79 (6.52) | 5.69 (8.37) | <0.0001 |
Engaged in outside home chores/week | 2.31 (6.05) | 1.90 (4.31) | 0.219 |