Nutritional habits according to age and BMI of 6–17-year-old children from the urban municipality in Poland

Abstract

Background Balanced nutrition is crucial for adolescent’s proper physical and mental development. Dietary habits change significantly with a child’s development. Along with increasing age and the shift towards adolescence, unhealthy diet-related habits become more common. The objective of the survey study was to determine the differences in nutritional habits between children and adolescents according to their age and body mass index (BMI). Methods “Let’s get the kids moving” campaign (pol. “Uruchamiamy dzieciaki”) was launched in 2016. Within the campaign, the survey study was conducted in 2913 participants between 6 and 17 years old from primary and junior high schools in Wroclaw (Poland). The survey was anonymous, and its supplement was voluntary. Participants were divided into age groups. The study group of 2913 consisted of 29.8% of 6–9-year-olds, 32.7% of 10–12-year-olds, and 37.5% of 13–17-year-olds. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and further interpreted as a BMI z-scores depending on children’s age and gender. Results A total of 19.3% of participants consumed 3 meals a day or less. Children from the oldest age group (13–17) consumed statistically significantly fewer meals per day than younger children (p < 0.001). Children from the oldest age group (13–17) consumed breakfast statistically less often than children of age group 10–12 years (75.0% vs. 83.6%; p < 0.001) and children of age group 6–9 years (75.0% vs. 84.0%; p < 0.001). Severely thin children consumed breakfast significantly more often than overweight (85.8% vs. 76.3%; p = 0.004) and children with obesity (85.8% vs. 75.9%; p = 0.021). Children with obesity consumed vegetables significantly less often than severely thin (p < 0.008), thin (p < 0.001), and children with normal body weight (p < 0.007). The oldest children (13–17 years) consumed Coca-Cola and SSB (p < 0.001) and fruit-flavored beverages (p < 0.05) significantly more often than children from other age groups. Boys consumed carbonated beverages with added sugar significantly more often than girls (p < 0.01). Conclusions Unhealthy diet-related behaviors in children and adolescents may promote overweight and obesity and should be targeted in health promotion programs. Special attention should be paid to 13–17-year-olds, as adolescents from this group made more unhealthy choices than younger children.

The Impact of Physical Activity at School on Eating Behaviour and Leisure Time of Early Adolescents

“…Processed meat products, such as ham, sausages were more frequently consumed by the control group children than increased PA. Children with increased PA at school ate poultry meat more often and red meat less often than the control group ones. Lower consumption of poultry meat was observed also in the study by Basiak-Rasała et al, (2022) [ 61 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, it decreased over time. Even less frequent fish intake was reported in the study of Basiak-Rasała (2022) [ 61 ]. The studies by Całyniuk et al, (2014) and Dortch et al, (2014) showed that regular PA was associated with higher consumption of meat, fish, wholemeal bakery products and vegetables [ 41 , 42 ].…”

“…It was observed that at the end of the study, the children ate fewer meals per day compared to the initial stage. Studies by Basiak-Rasała (2022) or Dolipska et al (2018) similarly showed that older teenagers ate fewer meals per day than younger ones [ 61 , 62 ]. Breakfast is recognised as the most important meal of the day, especially in the case in school-aged children [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”

“…Interestingly, it was observed that the frequency of milk and dairy products consumption increased with age, especially in the increased PA group. Lower levels of dairy consumption were observed in the study by Basiak-Rasała et al, (2022), in which approximately 20% of children consumed milk and dairy products several times a day [ 61 ]. Stefanska et al found that the recommended amounts of milk were consumed by only 30% of 11–12-year-olds and 20% of 13–15-year-olds [ 77 ].…”

The Synergetic Effect of Soft Drinks and Sweet/Salty Snacks Consumption and the Moderating Role of Obesity on Preadolescents’ Emotions and Behavior: A School-Based Epidemiological Study

“…Both soft drinks and sweet/salty snacks belong to UPFs which according to NOVA classification, are “made mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods and additives, with little if any intact edible parts of plants or animals minimally modified/preserved” [ 26 ]. As anticipated, and in accordance with the global trends, results showed that Greek preadolescents follow unhealthy dietary habits [ 1 , 27 , 28 ], whereas boys were found to be more susceptible to soft drinks and sweet/salty snacks compared to girls [ 29 , 30 ] perhaps due to the difference in response to environmental food cues, and in particular in high energy density foods [ 31 ]. The role of familial aggregation of unhealthy dietary habits is also re-confirmed, highlighting the effect of the family environment in the emotional/relational context [ 32 ], as well as the impact of aggressive marketing [ 33 ] addressed to youths.…”