Eating habits and practice of physical activity among eutrophic and overweight adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES: To assess the eating habits and physical activity of adolescents enrolled in two public schools in the city of Ribeirão Preto (SP). METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to analyze the eating habits and practice of physical activity of a group of overweight adolescents and of a eutrophic control group matched for sex and age. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short version) and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were applied and a 3-day food record was obtained. The nutritive value of the foods consumed was calculated with the Virtual Nutri® software. Body fat was estimated using the equations of Slaughter et al. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and by the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Fifty-one (44.7%) overweight and 63 (55.2%) eutrophic adolescents were studied. Mean BMI was 29.5 for the overweight group and 21.0 for the eutrophic group, and percent body fat was 49.4 and 29.1, respectively (p<0.01-ANOVA). The daily calorie intake of the eutrophic adolescents consisted of 56.7% carbohydrates, 15.4% proteins and 27.9% lipids and the intake of the overweight group was 52.7%, 17.1% and 30.2%, respectively. In the eutrophic group, 28.6% were considered to be very active and 60.3% active and in the overweight group these values were 23.5% and 70.6%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Information about the eating and physical activity habits of adolescents is of fundamental importance for subsidizing individual and community actions. Although adolescents report apparently adequate physical activity and calorie consumption, health professional should be aware of the high rates of overweight and obesity detected in this age range.