Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
Unit of Diabetology, ASUR Marche, Fermo, Italy.
Ann Ig. 2024 Mar-Apr;36(2):123-143. doi: 10.7416/ai.2024.2599. Epub 2024 Jan 18.
Childhood overweight and obesity represent serious public health concerns in several countries worldwide, including Italy, where the highest prevalence in Europe of overweight and obesity among primary school children was recorded. Among others, primary schools represent suitable social environments for health education projects. In this perspective, to optimize resources and plan successful activities, it is necessary, first of all, to analyze the context of the intervention.
A pilot survey involving children and teachers was conducted in a primary school in Jesi (Le Marche Region, Italy).
A questionnaire was submitted by teachers between May and June 2023 to 104 pupils (aged 6-11) from the five different primary school system classes. A qualitative questionnaire was also filled out by the same teachers (n = 5) who were present while the children were filling the eating/lifestyle questionnaire.
Most of the children (96.1%) had breakfast before school, with milk and cereal (51.5%) representing the preferred com-bination. During recess, 59.2% of pupils usually have a sandwich, 23.3% usually have sweet snacks, whereas only 2.9% have a fruit. Over 55% of the sample preferred drinking high-sugar beverages to water, and 15.5% declared going to a fast-food restaurant more than once a week. Over 17% of children did sport only once a week or less often. Over 64% of children habitually played videogames, and 77.6% normally watched TV or played with a tablet/smartphone while eating. Finally, the teachers' interview highlighted that there were no active health-related projects addressed to the pupils, and the school did not normally organize me-etings with health professionals to increase children's and their parents' knowledge and awareness about healthy eating habits.
This preliminary investigation analyzed the context for a future health and nutrition education project and will assist researchers in planning successful activities and increasing the efficiency of the intervention.
儿童超重和肥胖是全球多个国家，包括意大利，面临的严重公共卫生问题。意大利的小学生超重和肥胖率为全欧洲最高。除其他外，小学是健康教育项目的适宜社会环境。从这个角度来看，为了优化资源和规划成功的活动，首先有必要分析干预的背景。
在意大利马尔凯地区杰西的一所小学，对儿童和教师进行了一项试点调查。
2023 年 5 月至 6 月期间，教师向来自五个不同小学系统班级的 104 名学生（年龄 6-11 岁）提交了一份问卷。同时，在场的教师（n=5）也填写了一份定性问卷，内容是关于孩子们填写的饮食/生活方式问卷。
大多数孩子（96.1%）在上学前吃早餐，最受欢迎的早餐组合是牛奶和麦片（51.5%）。课间休息时，59.2%的学生通常会吃三明治，23.3%的学生通常会吃甜食，而只有 2.9%的学生会选择吃水果。超过 55%的样本更喜欢喝高糖饮料而不是水，15.5%的学生表示每周去快餐店不止一次。超过 17%的孩子每周只运动一次或更少。超过 64%的孩子习惯玩电子游戏，77.6%的孩子在吃饭时通常会看电视或玩平板电脑/智能手机。最后，教师的访谈强调，没有针对学生的主动健康相关项目，学校通常也不会组织与健康专业人士的会议，以提高儿童及其父母对健康饮食习惯的知识和认识。
本初步调查分析了未来健康和营养教育项目的背景，将有助于研究人员规划成功的活动并提高干预的效率。
