OBJECTIVES: An unhealthy lifestyle, inappropriate eating habits, and inadequate physical activity are the most common risk factors affecting health and causing the premature onset of non-communicable diseases. The study aimed to evaluate lifestyle factors, eating habits, and daily regimens in a sample of Slovak adolescents. METHODS: The sample involves 524 students aged 15-22 years attending selected secondary schools from the model region of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. We assessed the prevalence of selected lifestyle factors and investigated the relationship between negative lifestyle factors and the presence of overweight and obesity. RESULTS: We found eating irregularities including avoidance of school lunch, inadequate daily consumption of vegetables, dairy products and wholegrain foods, and the high consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages. The prevalence of excess weight and obesity in the sample was 18.4%. Compared to the non-obese, overweight or obese students had significantly lower daily consumption of vegetables and used to avoid sports more frequently. Almost 37% of students did not do sports at all. Students who were not doing sports on regular basis used to skip breakfast more frequently, they ate fewer vegetables and more sweets and spent considerable time in sedentary activities. CONCLUSION: In the sample of secondary school students, we investigated several negative lifestyle factors and the relatively high prevalence of overweight and obesity. The results of the study can be used for the development of preventive measures to protect and promote the health of children and youth.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- nadváha epidemiologie MeSH
- obezita epidemiologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- stravovací zvyklosti * MeSH
- studenti statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- životní styl * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
Children develop rapidly and many exogenous determinants of health significantly affect their somatic and mental development. There is a subjective perception of cognitive load associated with the educational process. The aim of the study is to assess individual environmental, behavioral and psychosocial factors influencing physical health and to investigate the amount of mental load in children. We investigated 87 schoolchildren (47 girls and 40 boys) aged 10-12 years, who were attending primary school in Bratislava. To assess values of selected factors we used a questionnaire form and personality characteristics were estimated by standardized psycho-diagnostic and IQ tests [range of classic fear, social-situation anxiety and jitters [skala Klasickeho strachu a Socialno-situacnej (in Slovak)] (KSAT), Eyesenck Personality Questionnaire for children (EPQ), Raven's IQ test]. Self-reported perception of mental load was assessed by questionnaire of subjective feelings and states (SFS). Children's body parameters were assessed using anthropometric measurements [height, weight, chest, abdominal and hip girth, Rohrer's index (RI), body mass index (BMI)] and a body fat measurement method (skinfold thickness). The results confirmed a significant relationship between higher parameters of overweight and obesity and irregular breakfast eating (p<0.05), absence of family dining (p<0.05), exposure to tobacco smoke in the family environment (p<0.01) and mother's level of education (p<0.05). Almost 60% of children reported high mental effort and cognitive load associated with the educational process. We note a close relationship between the higher mental load and the score of neuroticism (p<0.01). The physical and mental health of schoolchildren is significantly affected by exogenous factors. Therefore, in terms of protection and promotion of children's health, it is important to evaluate and monitor environmental risk factors and to form their healthy habits.
- MeSH
- antropometrie MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- duševní zdraví * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- studenti MeSH
- zdraví dítěte * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- zdravotní stav * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
