Nutritional habits of middle-aged schoolchildren from Kaunas town and Raseiniai district

Lina Škėmienė,Sandra Sabonaitytė,Jolita Kirvaitienė,Rūta Ustinavičienė,Ričardas Radišauskas,Robertas Lažauskas

doi:10.3390/medicina45040039

Abstract

To evaluate nutritional habits of middle-aged schoolchildren living in a town and district of Lithuania. The 8th-9th-grade schoolchildren were questioned by an anonymous questionnaire. A total of 329 students, 169 from Kaunas and 160 from Raseiniai district, participated in the study. Only half of students reported that they had breakfast (61.3% of schoolboys and 47.6% of schoolgirls). More students from the district had dinner in the school canteen as compared to Kaunas students. Only 14.0% of schoolchildren followed nutrition regimen (14.8% of students from Kaunas and 13.1% of students from Raseiniai always had their meal at the same time). Every second schoolboy and schoolgirl consumed vegetables and fruits every day. Whole grain bread was consumed every day similarly frequently by students from Kaunas and Raseiniai, 25.4% and 18.8%, respectively; the students from Kaunas consumed skim milk more frequently, 26.0% and 11.9%, respectively (P<0.05). Confectionery was consumed more frequently by schoolchildren from Kaunas as compared to schoolchildren from Raseiniai district (63.9% vs. 55.0%); however, it was consumed more frequently by boys than girls. Less than one-fourth of Kaunas students (20.7%) consumed potato chips every day, whereas the percentage of the students from Raseiniai district was only 10.0% (P<0.05). Pizzas, kebabs, and hamburgers were consumed more frequently by schoolboys than schoolgirls. Knowledge of healthy nutrition was obtained mainly from media by 48.6% of students; every eighth student got this information from parents, every tenth from physicians, and 7.0% from teachers. Middle-aged students from both Kaunas town and Raseiniai district did not follow nutrition regimen; half of them did not have their breakfast before going to school. Fruits and vegetables as recommended foods were consumed by half of the participants; every fourth student consumed skim milk, and every fifth student consumed whole grain bread. The students more frequently consumed such foods as confectionery and smoked meat, which are not recommended (every second student); every fourth had an intake of carbonated drinks (the students from Kaunas more frequently) and potato chips (the students from Kaunas more frequently), and every tenth consumed pizzas and fried potatoes. More than half of students obtained knowledge of healthy nutrition from media, and every tenth--from the physicians.

Highlights

Healthy and balanced nutrition has a significant impact on human physical and mental development, working capacity and longevity
Middle-aged students from both Kaunas town and Raseiniai district did not follow nutrition regimen; half of them did not have their breakfast before going to school
Middle-aged schoolchildren from both Kaunas and Raseiniai district did not follow nutritional regimen; a half of them did not have their breakfast before going to school

Summary

Introduction

Healthy and balanced nutrition has a significant impact on human physical and mental development, working capacity and longevity. Proper nutrition is the basis of health. According to the data of different scientists, healthy nutrition makes up 25–30% of our health (1). Physical and mental working capacity, physical education, and good health are important conditions to develop children physically, mentally and spiritually. The regular checkups revealed that the Nutritional habits of middle-aged schoolchildren from Kaunas town and Raseiniai district 303 number of sick children every year was increasing: more children were ill with diseases of nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems (2). One of the main healthy lifestyle elements that prevent gastrointestinal diseases is healthy nutrition (3). The market offers for children and adolescences more attractive foods, which have a low dietary value; canteens of schools are being privatized, prices of foods are increasing, less attention is given to nutrition because of increased involvement of students in school activities (4)

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