Influence of dietary and activity patterns on weight status of Ukrainian school aged children

Dietary patterns and physical activity have significant influence on weight status. Despite numerous studies related to this topic, there is no existing research which provides complete population-based studies that identify the most significant predictors of pediatric obesity. Therefore, it has become the major goal of our study.

Three hundred school students between 10 and 17 years of age were participating in our study. All of them are currently attending various schools in city of Ternopil, Ukraine. Anthropometric measurements were performed for all participants. Information about food consumption and physical activity was obtained from distributed questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify the significant predictors of obesity.

Lack of physical activity during week (OR=2.59 [95% CI 1.10-6.08]), long screen time in weekdays (OR=2.94 [95% CI 1.13-7.69]) and weekends (OR=3.63 [95% CI 1.55-8.50]), frequent consumption (OR=2.60 [95% CI 1.30-5.19]) and high amounts (OR=2.52 [95% CI 1.26-5.05]) of sweet beverages, fast-food consumption (OR=30.97 [95% CI 1.46-657.60]) and overeating (OR=3.99 [95% CI 1.26-5.05]) have increased chance to be overweight in children 10-17 years of age (p<0.05).

Decreased frequency in moderate physical activity per week, increased amount of sugar-sweetened beverages, fast-food consumption per day and food consumption without hunger, appear to be the most significant predictors of overweight and obesity among Ukrainian school-aged children.