Abstract des Autors

This research presents an epidemiological study in an Elementary School population, about the prevalence of obesity, overweightness and some indexes of physical and sedentary activities. 242 children of third and fourth grade (males 51.2% and females 48.8%, 9-10 years old) of Belluno District, were evaluated. The Body Mass Index (BMI) and the Cole index were calculated; the parents filled out a questionnaire which investigated the level and quality of involvement in sport and sedentary activities like watching television and studying. 59% of the children resulted within the weight normality with the Cole index </=110, 15.29% resulted owerweight (Cole index 110 to 120), 20.6% resulted obese (Cole index 120 to .140), 4.96% 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 194 children (80.1%) practice some sport. The most practiced sports swimming (18.9%), soccer (17.4%) and gymnastic-dance (15.38%), winter skiing (13.2%) are practiced twice a week by 60% of the children. No relationship has been found among Cole index and sports and sedentary activities and the time spent watching TV is lesser (11 hours) than literature data. Obesity and overweight, in the examined population, result high even in relation to data found in literature. To prevent overweightness or obesity, it should be appropriate to advise parents, school operators and students to choose a sport with a remarkable caloric consumption, at least 250-300 Kcal per session, twice a week, along with a change in a lifestyle physical activity. Besides, children should be addressed to sport activities at an early age (4-5 years old) in which obesity and overweightness are less frequent, in order to anticipate the learning of the athletic gesture, so that later in the growth, at 9-10 years they can be subjected to the higher workload for therapeutic purpose. Verf.-Referat