Estilo de vida y hábitos alimentarios de los adolescentes extremeños

Dietary Patterns and Fitness Level in Mexican Teenagers

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, the term "physical fitness" has evolved from sports performance to health status, and it has been considered a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. In this sense, test batteries have been developed to evaluate physical fitness such as the ALPHA-FIT battery. On the other hand, the analysis of dietary patterns has emerged as an alternative method to study the relationship between diet and chronic noncommunicable diseases. However, the association between dietary patterns and the physical fitness level has not been evaluated in both adults and adolescents. This association is most important in adolescents due to the fact that establishing healthy dietary behaviors and a favorable nutritional profile in early stages of life prevents various chronic-degenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between dietary patterns and the level of fitness in Mexican teenagers.

METHODS

We analyzed the relationship between dietary patterns and the fitness level of 42 teenage students in Toluca, Mexico. Students were weighed and measured, and their food intake was recorded for 2 weekdays and one weekend day. Dietary patterns were obtained by factorial analysis. The ALPHA-FIT battery was used to measure the fitness level.

RESULTS

Fifty percent of the students were found to have a low fitness level (62.1% men; 37.9% women). There was no association (X2 = 0.83) between the dietary patterns "high in fat and sugar," "high in protein", and "low in fat and protein" and the level of physical condition in teens.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, all of teenagers with a very low level of fitness obtained a high dietary pattern in protein; however, 40% with a high level of physical condition resulted in the same pattern; that is why we did not find a relationship between the fitness level and the patterns investigated in this study.

[Dietary intake of secondary education students in Badajoz]

OBJECTIVES

To quantify dietary intake of secondary education students in Badajoz, Spain, evaluating food frequency use in teenagers of both sexes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study sample consisted of 1197 secondary education students (49.9% male and 50.1% female). After giving informed consent, they completed a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) including 51 food items divided into five separate categories. This questionnaire was modified from the one used at the Valencian Community in 2003 and previously validated in a pilot study on 374 students.

RESULTS

Male and females students reported higher intakes of 70.6% and 17.6% of foods analyzed respectively, while intake of 11.8% of food items was similar in both sexes. Sex differences were statistically significant for 35% of foods (of which 72% and 28% were taken more frequently by males and females respectively). Intake of milk and dairy products appeared to be adequate, while intake of fish and seafood was low consumption of meat products was high. Intake of vegetables, fruits, bread, and cereals was below the recommended levels. Intake of pasta, rice, and oils was adequate, and there was not a high consumptio of cookies or industrial pastries. There was an excess intake of sweets, but intake of soft drinks was not high.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show intermediate values as compared to other national surveys.

[Parental stance towards alcohol consumption in 12- to 17-year-old adolescents from six urban areas in Spain]

OBJECTIVES

To determine the opinions of urban parents on alcohol drinking in teenagers and their positioning regarding the legal restrictive measures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a qualitative study of six focal groups including 42 mothers and fathers of adolescents from six different Spanish regions and from diverse social strata. The quantitative part of the study consisted of a 1-10 scale questionnaire, measuring parents' acceptance and opinion about legal measures restricting underage drinking. Means and standard deviation were calculated.

RESULTS

Parents did not consider adolescent alcohol drinking to be a problem so long as it was moderate and leisure time-related. The social and cultural context was permissive with the alcohol consumption. Alcohol intake depended on both external (social pressure) and internal (family) factors. Fathers' preferred to exercise authority, while mothers preferred communication and education skills. Parents approved of teachers' interventions, especially when based on the student's overall education and not restricted to knowledge transmission. Public institutions and authorities were held responsible for adolescents' lack of information, the scarcity of leisure-time alternatives and for not ensuring compliance with current regulations. Parents approved restrictions regarding the sale and advertising of alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents recognize adolescent alcohol drinking as a problem and tend to deal with it. Parents use distinct intervention strategies and generally approve legal measures.

[Do we really follow the Mediterranean diet?]

OBJECTIVE

To discover people's nutritional habits and their distance from the Mediterranean diet.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, descriptive study.

SETTING

Gavà 2 Health District, Barcelona, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

614 obtained at random from patients attending the centre. Stratified in 3 age groups (15-35, 36-64, and over 64).

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Validated questionnaire of the consumption by groups of food over the previous week. Then figures were compared with the standard values of the Mediterranean diet.

RESULTS

Outstanding results were: 60% insufficiency in consumption of carbohydrates; 70.7% insufficiency in green vegetables, fruit and root vegetables; 75% of optimum consumption of pulses; 64% deficient consumption of milk products; 66% optimum consumption of fish; 73.8% optimum consumption of eggs; 71.2% proper intake of white meat; 64.2% excessive consumption of red meat and processed meats, which reached 86.6% among 15-35 year olds. There was a BMI over 25 in 59% of women and 63% of men, with obesity being most common among women and people over 64 years old.

CONCLUSIONS

The population studied consumed an excessive amount of food with high contents of saturated fat, especially young people. There is a deficit in the intake of slowly absorbed carbohydrates and a less than ideal consumption of fruit, green vegetables and root vegetables, which was more marked among the young. The consumption of milk products was below the recommended amount. Pulses, fish and white meat were close to the right levels. This pattern is far from ideal and leads to higher risk of prevalent chronic illnesses.

[Alcohol consumption in Toledo schoolchildren: reasons and alternatives]

OBJECTIVE

To know the consumption of alcohol in Toledo schoolchildren, to find out the reasons which cause them to drink and the alternatives proposed.

DESIGN

Descriptive, transverse study.

LOCATION

2 zones in the Toledo health area.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 625 adolescents between 13 and 18 years, in the third and fourth years of Obligatory Secondary Education and first year in High School (Bachillerato) of 2 secondary education institutions in Torrijos and 1 in Toledo capital.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Using an ad hoc designed anonymous questionnaire, with 32 items, the following data was collected: age, sex, alcohol consumption (personal, family, and friends), how much (standard drink units), knowledge and sources of information on alcohol, taking of other drugs, reasons for consuming, and the alternatives.

RESULTS

47.27% of those questioned were male. The mean age was 15.4 +/- (-)1.3 years. 93.4% had tried alcohol (95% CI, 91.1-95.2). 52.0% had been drunk at some time, which was more frequent in rural areas than in the city. 58.1% considered alcohol as a drug. Among the reasons mentioned for drinking, the main ones were "enjoyment" (46.3%), "to forget problems" (30.7%), and "curiosity" (24.6%). The alternatives to drinking which were proposed were related to computers and sport.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumption of alcohol is a common habit among adolescents and its pattern differs between urban and rural areas, where it is much earlier and more intense in the latter. It forms part of their lifestyle, they use it as a means of enjoyment and a large percentage consider that alcohol is a drug. Against "street binge drinking," their proposals are computer activities and sport.