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Objectives: The main research objective was to analyze the intake of macronutrients and micronutrients in a population of adolescents. The purpose of the study was to verify a significant correlation between the habit of breafasting at home each morning and the nutritional status of the sample population., Sample and Methodology: The sample population was composed of 100 adolescents, 12-15 years of age, who attended two public secondary schools in the city of Granada. The study conducted was descriptive, cross-sectional, and multi-centered, and involved a comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional status of the subjects by using anthropometry. The analysis of food intake and dietary habits was based on a 72-hour record of the subjects' food intake. The protocol used had previously been elaborated and validated by the research team., Results: For all subjects, the energy intake was found to be higher than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The female subjects had a mean protein intake of 16% in regards to total calorific value (TCV). In the case of the male subjects, the mean protein intake was 15%. The mean consumption of fats was 106.1 for the male subjects, whereas for the females, it was 110.4 grams. The females were found to ingest more carbohydrates at a rate of 297.4 grams per day in comparison to the male subjects, whose rate of carbohydrate ingestion was 251 grams per day. The ingestion of minerals varied in both sexes though in all cases it was lower than the RDA. However, the male subjects had a calcium and zinc intake higher than the RDA for these minerals. The vitamin intake was varied and balanced in both male and female subjects, and covered the requirements for both age and sex. Regarding the variable, breakfast, a significant relation was found (p < 0.0001) between the dietary habit of breakfasting at home before going to school and the nutritional status of the students., Conclusions: The results of this study showed that an optimal nutritional and health status requires a balanced food intake and healthy dietary habits., (Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to first determine the nutritional state of a sample population of school children, and then analyze the distribution pattern of their subcutaneous fat layer. The sample was composed of 977 school children from the city and province of Granada (Spain). All of the children (524 girls and 452 boys) were 9-17 years of age. To study their nutritional state and the distribution of the subcutaneous fat layer, they were given a complete anthropometric evaluation, which included measuring their weight, height, body mass index, skin folds, and body perimeters. The results obtained showed a 23.01% prevalence of overweight in the female subjects and 20.81% in the male subjects. Furthermore, the female subjects had an obesity prevalence of 12.70% in comparison to the male subjects, whose obesity prevalence was 4.98%. The distribution pattern of subcutaneous fat was found to be mainly located in the central part of body. The high percentage of overweight and obesity along with the development of a central fat distribution pattern (neck, chest, and abdomen) in these school children is clear evidence of potential cardiovascular risk.

According to recent research, eating behaviour should be understand as a cyclical and interactive process in which parental eating habits cause children to develop specific eating strategies as well as their own eating habits. Needless to say, this interactive process is reflected and has a direct impact on the nutritional indicators of the children in a family. The objectives of this study were the following: (i) to verify the existence of a significant association between the educational level of parents and the nutritional state of children in the same family; (ii) to discover if there is a direct relation between the nutritional state of children and the person that decides the menu and/or prepares family meals; (iii) to determine if there is a link between the nutritional state of children and the time that they spend on sedentary leisure activities. The sample population was composed of 718 school children and adolescents, 9-17 years of age, who A descriptive, transversal, and multicentric study was performed that evaluated the nutritional state of the entire sample by using anthropometric techniques to assess weight, height, and body mass index.

The World Health Organization (WHO) regards obesity as one of the most serious public health problems in the world that can affect young children and adolescents. Accordingly, a major priority is to find ways to more effectively study and analyze the various methods used to diagnose and evaluate the nutritional state of the pediatric and adolescent population. The nutritional indicators currently employed for this purpose are the body mass index and body-fat percentage. However, there is a certain controversy related to the body-fat percentage since it tends to overestimate overweight and obesity. The main objectives of this study were the following: (i) to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a population of primary and secondary school children between 9-17 years of age at 13 educational centers in the city and province of Granada; (ii) to verify possible differences regarding the accuracy of the body mass index and the body-fat percentage in the diagnosis of overweight and obesity.

Introduction: Several authors have found correlations between anthropometric parameters and blood pressure levels in overweight and obese subjects. This paper is an update on the potential of these parameters as a tool for predicting cardiovascular risk., Aims: to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Second verify the existence of a significant correlation between the main anthropometric indicators and the blood pressure levels., Sample: The population consisted of 977 children and adolescents between 9 and 17 years of age belonging to 13 schools in the province of Granada and city., Methodology: anthropometric evaluation in which they were assessed six skinfolds, waist circumference, hip and determination of blood pressure in three consecutive occasions. The anthropometric assessment phase began in March 2008 lasted until April 2009., Results: We found that the prevalence of overweight in girls varied between 18.3% and 32.2%. For its part, the prevalence among boys was between 10.9% and 26.1%. Regarding the prevalence of obesity, the girls had similar rates between 4.5% and 15.1%. Among boys the prevalence of obesity was similar, and found rates between 4.7% and 12.6%. Of all the parameters measured, body mass index and waist circumference were the anthropometric indicators that showed a better correlation to blood pressure., Conclusions: BMI and WC are useful anthropometric indicators to predict cardiovascular risk in non adults.

Objectives: The objective of this research was to study the prevalence of obesity and excess weight in a population of school children and adolescents, and to verify the effectiveness of an educational intervention, as reflected in the variation of their body mass index values., Materials: The population sample was composed of 977 school children and adolescents from 9 to 17 years of age, belonging to 13 public elementary schools and high schools in the city and province of Granada (Spain)., Methodology: This longitudinal cohort study was analytical, muticentric, and observational. It was carried out in three phases. The first phase involved the evaluation of the nutritional state of the sample population by means of anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index, six skin folds and four body perimeters) as well as arterial blood pressure. The second phase entailed an educational intervention focusing on good nutritional habits and physical exercise. The third and final phase evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention., Results: A higher obesity prevalence (15.1%) was found in school girls between 12 and 13. In the case of boys, obesity prevalence was lower up to age 13 though afterwards, it progressively increased (12.6%). The educational intervention produced an important reduction in body mass index values in both sexes though this reduction was more significant in young females., Conclusions: There is a currently an alarming increase in obesity and overweight prevalence among the population evaluated in this study. The significant reduction in body mass index values resulting from this research confirmed the effectiveness of the educational intervention to reduce excess weight.