[Obesity, overweight and physical activity in elementary school children]

This research presents an epidemiological study on the prevalence of obesity and overweightness in an Elementary School population. 243 children of third and fourth grade (males 52.26% and females 47.74%, 9-10 years old) of the Selvazzano (Padova) District, were evaluated during the annual medical visit. The Body Max Index (BMI) and the Cole index were calculated. The parents filled out a questionnaire which investigated the level and quality of involvement in sports. The statistical analysis was executed by the ANOVA test and post Hoc analysis. 59.02% of the children resulted within the ponderal normality with the Cole index < or = 110, 13.5% resulted overweight (Cole index 110 divided by 120), 20% resulted obese (Cole index 120 divided by 140), 7.3% resulted highly obese (Cole index > 140). High level obesity was found in fourth grade boys (p < 0.0001). As far as sports are concerned, it is noted that 173 children (73.3%) practise some sport. The more practised sports, swimming (44.5%), soccer (27.1%) and gymnastic (15.02%), are practised twice a week by 58.3% of the children. Obesity and overweight in the examined population result high even in relation to data found in literature. When choosing a sport activity to prevent overweightness or obesity, one should advise parents, school operators and students to choose a sport with a great caloric consumption, at least 250-300 kcal per session, twice a week, along with a change in active lifestyle. Regarding swimming, the most practised sport, children should be sent at an early age (4-5 years old) in order to anticipate learning of the athletic gesture, and to do this at an age in which obesity and overweightness have less an incidence.