Weekday and Weekend Differences in Eating Habits, Physical Activity and Screen Time Behavior among a Sample of Primary School Children: The “Seven Days for My Health” Project

Francesco Esposito, Francesco Sanmarchi, Sofia Marini, Alice Masini, Susan Scrimaglia, Emanuele Adorno, Giorgia Soldà, Fabrizio Arrichiello, Filippo Ferretti, Marilisa Rangone, Francesca Celenza, Emilia Guberti, Domenico Tiso, Stefania Toselli, Antonello Lorenzini, Laura Dallolio and Rossella Sacchetti
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Francesco Esposito: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Francesco Sanmarchi: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Sofia Marini: Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
Alice Masini: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Susan Scrimaglia: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Emanuele Adorno: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Giorgia Soldà: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Fabrizio Arrichiello: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Filippo Ferretti: Department of Public Health, Bologna Health Trust, 40121 Bologna, Italy
Marilisa Rangone: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Francesca Celenza: Department of Public Health, Bologna Health Trust, 40121 Bologna, Italy
Emilia Guberti: Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Department of Public Health, 40121 Bologna, Italy
Domenico Tiso: Hospital Villa Maria, 47921 Rimini, Italy
Stefania Toselli: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Antonello Lorenzini: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Laura Dallolio: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Rossella Sacchetti: Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Healthy eating and active lifestyle habits are essential for a child’s development, wellbeing, and health. School setting and family environment play a crucial role in shaping these habits and this could be reflected in different behavior patterns during weekdays and weekends. Methods: We investigated primary school children’s lifestyle habits through a cross-sectional analysis of 428 Italian primary school children, with a mean age of 8.99 years (±1.43). Data were collected from May to June 2017 using a weekly diary to assess children’s lifestyles. Results: Children who eat their morning snack and lunch at school three or more times during the weekdays were 5.47 times more likely (95% CI 3.02, 10.2) to consume adequate snacks and 7.79 times more likely (95% CI 4.43, 14.5) to have adequate meals than those who did not. Conclusion: Consumption of vegetables, lunch, and snacks are significantly more adequate during the weekdays as compared to the weekends. Physical activity levels did not differ between weekdays and weekends. Moreover, children spent more time engaged in physical activities than in front of a screen during both the weekdays and the weekends. The present results are good indicators of the importance of the school canteen in defining correct eating habits. Family-based and school-based interventions could represent valuable integrative strategies for promoting a healthy lifestyle in children.

Keywords: KIDMED index; diet quality; sedentary behavior; children; school canteen; public health; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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