Lifestyle and nutritional status among school children

Abstract

Objective: To explore the association between lifestyle and nutritional status among school children.

Method: Correlational study involving 260 children registered at an ISSSTE clinic, who were randomly selected. A questionnaire on childhood lifestyles was used; weight and height were also assessed. A project approval from the ISSSTE research committee was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.

Results: 137 boys and 123 girls with ages between 6 and 12 years old participated. In relation to the nutrition status, five out every ten have a normal weight; two out every ten are over weighted, and one out of every ten is obese or under weighted respectively. In relation to lifestyle, seven out of every ten participants have low risk; and two out of every ten have medium risk. On the other hand a relation between the lifestyle and nutritional status of the children was not found (rs=.038, p > 0.05). Moreover, it was found that children with normal or low weights have better sleep habits in comparison to the children who are over weighted or obese U = 3.79, p < .001).

Conclusions: This study suggests that issues related to the psychological and corporal dimensions, as well as the use of free time, should be further explored because they showed figures which place children within mid and high risks.