An Investigation of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity and Affecting Factors in Primary Schools

Abstract

Abstract Background In this study, it was aimed to determine the family nutrition and physical activity status of primary school students and some affecting factors. Methods In this descriptive and correlation-seeking research, mixed sampling methods were used. The sample size was not calculated, it was aimed to reach all students in three primary schools with different socioeconomic status (high, medium, low) in Uskudar, Istanbul. Data from 727 subjects were collected through an introductory information form and The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool (FNPA). Results In the study, data from 294 (49.7%) girls and 297 (50.3%) boys from three primary schools who studied first grade (n = 321, 54.3%) and 4th grade (n = 270, 45.7%), a total of 591 children were used. The total FNPA score of students in schools with high or middle socioeconomic status was significantly higher than the socioeconomically low school (P < 0.001). The mean score of the scale was significantly higher in those who doesn’t eat junkfood or snacks (P = 0.001), who had regular breakfast (P = 0.001) and people with regular meal time (P = 0.001). The mean BMI of children in the middle socioeconomic status school was found to be significantly higher than that of students in the low socioeconomic status school (P = 0.013). There was also a significant correlation between the mean BMI of mothers and the total FNPA score (P < 0.001). Conclusions In the study, as the socioeconomic status of schools increased, FNPA total score increased as well. Although some studies suggest that family income and socioeconomic status are inversely related to childhood obesity, in this research the mean BMI of children in the socioeconomically middle school was significantly higher than the students in the socioeconomically low school. Key messages The evaluation of the nutritional and physical activity status of the family as an element of the obesogenic environment, may be effective on identifying the causes of childhood obesity. Studies to determine the nutritional and physical activity of the family in preventing childhood obesity are essential.