Bezrati Ikram, Hammami Raouf, Ceylan Halil İbrahim, Govindasamy Karuppasamy, Fradj Mohamed K Ben, Feki Moncef, Mansour Abderraouf Ben, Parpa Koulla
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Rabta Hospital, University of Tunis El Manar, LR99ES11, Tunis 1007, Tunisia.
Tunisian Research Laboratory 'Sports Performance Optimization', National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS-LR09SEP01), Tunis 1003, Tunisia.
Children (Basel). 2024 Jul 15;11(7):857. doi: 10.3390/children11070857.
Monitoring anthropometry, dietary intake, and physical activity (PA) is essential to prevent/counteract childhood obesity. This study examined dietary intake, PA, and anthropometric characteristics in young boys practicing soccer as a recreational sport.
A cross-sectional study included 226 boys aged 8 to 13 years participating in soccer as a recreational activity in football academies located in Tunis, Tunisia. Anthropometric measures allowed the calculation of body mass index, fat mass, and peak height velocity as markers of biological maturity. A three-day food record and a food frequency questionnaire estimated nutrient intake and eating habits. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to estimate the PA level of the participants.
It was found that a high percentage of the children had excess weight (54%) and excess fat mass (47%). The total energy, carbohydrate, and saturated fat intake of the children exceeded the recommended levels by approximately 10%, 15%, and 30%, respectively. However, the intake of unsaturated fat was below the estimated requirements, particularly in obese children. In addition to the unbalanced macronutrient intake, the children also showed an insufficient intake of many essential micronutrients. Around 60% to 70% of the children in all three groups had a low intake of magnesium, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and vitamins B9, B12, and D. Moreover, 20% to 35% of the children in the three groups had an insufficient intake of vitamins A and C. Insufficient vitamin E intake was found in 63% of obese children and 35% of non-obese children. It was observed that the PA level was lower in the overweight/obese group compared to the normal-weight group ( < 0.005). More than three-quarters of overweight/obese children had low PA levels, about 20% were moderately active, and only 1 to 2% were highly active. Conversely, normal-weight children showed moderate to high PA levels.
Poor eating behavior, an unbalanced diet, and a low PA level are prevalent in Tunisian boys practicing recreational sports. Such a combination is responsible for a disparity between energy intake and expenditure, contributing to weight excess and increased cardiometabolic risk. The study findings provide meaningful information for practitioners and authorities on applying a balanced diet and adequate PA to prevent and fight against obesity and improve cardiometabolic health in youth.
监测人体测量指标、饮食摄入和身体活动对于预防/对抗儿童肥胖至关重要。本研究调查了将足球作为一项休闲运动的年轻男孩的饮食摄入、身体活动及人体测量特征。
一项横断面研究纳入了226名年龄在8至13岁的男孩，他们在突尼斯突尼斯市的足球学院将足球作为一项休闲活动参与其中。人体测量指标用于计算体重指数、脂肪量和身高生长高峰速度，作为生物成熟度的标志物。通过为期三天的食物记录和食物频率问卷来估计营养摄入和饮食习惯。使用国际身体活动问卷（IPAQ）来估计参与者的身体活动水平。
发现高比例的儿童超重（54%）和脂肪量超标（47%）。儿童的总能量、碳水化合物和饱和脂肪摄入量分别比推荐水平高出约10%、15%和30%。然而，不饱和脂肪的摄入量低于估计需求量，尤其是在肥胖儿童中。除了宏量营养素摄入不均衡外，儿童还表现出多种必需微量营养素摄入不足。所有三组中约60%至70%的儿童镁、n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）以及维生素B9、B12和D的摄入量较低。此外，三组中20%至35%的儿童维生素A和C的摄入量不足。63%的肥胖儿童和35%的非肥胖儿童维生素E摄入不足。观察到超重/肥胖组的身体活动水平低于正常体重组（<0.005）。超过四分之三的超重/肥胖儿童身体活动水平较低，约20%为中度活跃，只有1%至2%为高度活跃。相反，正常体重儿童表现出中度至高度的身体活动水平。
在参与休闲运动的突尼斯男孩中，不良的饮食行为、不均衡的饮食和较低的身体活动水平普遍存在。这种组合导致能量摄入与消耗之间的差异，导致体重超标并增加心脏代谢风险。研究结果为从业者和当局提供了有意义的信息，有助于应用均衡饮食和适当的身体活动来预防和对抗肥胖，并改善青少年的心脏代谢健康。
