Bučan Nenadić Dora, Štrkalj Lucija, Zloić Klara, Matana Antonela, Selak Marija, Smoljo Matea, Vlašić Antonia, Peričić Vanessa Ivana, Kolak Gaurina Ela
Nutrition and Dietetics Department, University Hospital of Split, Spinčićeva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia.
Croatian Association of Nutritionists, Ilica 134, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Children (Basel). 2025 May 29;12(6):699. doi: 10.3390/children12060699.
Overweight children and childhood obesity are growing public health concerns influenced by early-life nutrition and lifestyle. Irregular eating patterns, sedentary behaviour, and maladaptive eating behaviours significantly contribute to excess weight gain in children. This cross-sectional study comprehensively assessed physical activity, sleep, anthropometric parameters, and eating behaviours in preschool children in Split, Croatia, examining associations between eating behaviours and nutritional status indicators. A total of 429 children aged 4 to 7 years were recruited from kindergartens in Split-Dalmatia County. Parents completed a lifestyle questionnaire and the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, middle upper arm circumference, waist circumference) were recorded and BMI-for-age z-scores calculated. Physical activity and sleep patterns were assessed based on parental reports. A total of 66% of the children had a healthy body weight, 12.6% were underweight, and 21.4% were overweight or obese. Significant sex differences were found in the CEBQ subscale "Slowness in Eating" ( = 0.04). Overweight or obese children showed a higher food responsiveness, while underweight/normal-weight children had greater emotional undereating and slowness in eating. No significant sex differences were observed regarding physical activity. Girls exhibited significantly more frequent daytime napping than boys. This study shows a significant prevalence of overweight and obese preschool children in Split, Croatia. The results underline the importance of promoting healthy eating behaviours and physical activity from an early age. This is the first study applying CEBQ in the Croatian population and suggests that the interventions should target diet quality and unfavourable eating behaviours to prevent future health risks.
超重儿童和儿童肥胖问题日益引起公众对健康的关注，这受到早期营养和生活方式的影响。不规律的饮食模式、久坐不动的行为以及适应不良的饮食行为，在很大程度上导致了儿童体重过度增加。这项横断面研究全面评估了克罗地亚斯普利特市学龄前儿童的身体活动、睡眠、人体测量参数和饮食行为，研究了饮食行为与营养状况指标之间的关联。从斯普利特 - 达尔马提亚县的幼儿园招募了总共429名4至7岁的儿童。家长们完成了一份生活方式问卷和儿童饮食行为问卷（CEBQ）。记录了人体测量数据（体重、身高、上臂中部周长、腰围），并计算了年龄别BMI z评分。根据家长报告评估身体活动和睡眠模式。共有66%的儿童体重健康，12.6%体重过轻，21.4%超重或肥胖。在CEBQ分量表“进食缓慢”中发现了显著的性别差异（=0.04）。超重或肥胖儿童表现出更高的食物反应性，而体重过轻/正常体重的儿童情绪性进食不足和进食缓慢的情况更严重。在身体活动方面未观察到显著的性别差异。女孩白天小睡的频率明显高于男孩。这项研究表明，克罗地亚斯普利特市超重和肥胖学龄前儿童的患病率很高。研究结果强调了从小促进健康饮食行为和身体活动的重要性。这是第一项在克罗地亚人群中应用CEBQ的研究，表明干预措施应针对饮食质量和不良饮食行为，以预防未来的健康风险。
