Physical activity and nutrition of children in primary education

Abstract

Physical inactivity is the fourth major cause of mortality in the world, so the World Health Organisation advises for children and adolescents to accumulate moderate physical activity at least 60 minutes a day with the aim to preserve health and prevent the occurrence of various chronic diseases. Elevated overweight and obesity, besides in adulthood, occur increasingly more in childhood. The aim of the research is to determine the level of nutrition and physical activity of younger school children, as well as the differences between girls and boys. The results obtained on a sample of 265 participants of a younger school age show that girls and boys have a normal nutritional level in the first and third grade, while for girls and boys of the second and fourth grade an elevated level of the body mass index (BMI) was noticed. Results show that most girls and boys of a younger school age do sports in their free time, and that they spend approximately 2 to 3 hours a day outdoors. Boys usually train three times a week, girls train two times a week, while the average boys’ training lasts 60, and the girls’ training 75 minutes.