Evaluación del estado nutricional y nivel de actividad física en niños y adolescentes de la escuela de natación de iniciación deportiva de Bucaramanga (Santander).

Abstract

Introduction: The WHO has pointed out both obesity and overweight as a pandemic, being children and teenagers the target group to step in, and being physical activity (PA) an inclusive strategy. The PA and a healthy diet have been identified as the main factors in preventing cardiovascular disease and obesity. In Colombia, according to the ENSIN (2005 – 2015) excess weight has been gradually increasing in children between 5 and 12 years old. Objective: To assess the nutritional status (NS) and level of PA in children and teenagers attending to the Swimming Initiation Sport School in Bucaramanga, Santander. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 132 children and teenagers age ranged from 6 to 12 years old from INDERBU swimming schools, where three aspects were assessed; the anthropometric NS; with Z-BMI / Age and height / Age scores, PA with Chile’s INTA questionnaire and food consumption frequency (FCQ); the relationship between the variables PA and NSA was performed using the Spearman test and the Pearson coefficient. Results: According to the FCQ participants present a low intake of fruits and vegetables; high intake in fast foods, candies, confectionary, packaged foods and carbonated beverages. The 88% of participants eat 5 meals and 1 out of 3 eats something after dinner. 73% of participants referred a regular level of PA and the main activities that contribute to this are the sitting hours in front of the television, computer, video game, cell phone screens and walking a few blocks a day. 33% presented excess weight; of this population only 1% has a good level of PA. Regarding the NS, 56.8% presented an adequate diagnosis for age; in regard gender, girls presented higher percentage distribution of overweight (25.5%) and obesity in children (13.6%). No statistically significant association was found between the level of PA and the NS of children and adolescents, (rs = - 0.02 and rxy = -0.1), when comparing the results of the level of PA and NS, participants present a better classification of NS rather than level of PA, which shows the inverse relationship between these 2 variables (rs = - 0.02). Conclusion: In despite of being a population that receives different teaching and educational strategies compared to other children and teenagers who do not belong to any sport school, it is not reflected in their eating habits. In the same way, the weekly systematic PA does not reach the “Good” classification according to the used scale, so it could be assumed that during the time they do not attend to the sport school, their PA level could be lower. Sedentary behaviours such as the hours in front of the screens (TV, PC and video games and cell phones) and walking a little throughout the day, decrease the practice of PA in the evaluated students, therefore, it is important that the territorial entities create or maintain institutional programs aimed at promoting in school’s PA and sports practices, as well as permanently include strategies that promote healthy eating habits.