Evaluación del estado nutricional, hábitos de alimentación y actividad física en escolares de 1º básico de Isla de Pascua de Chile en la última decada

Abstract

The people of Easter Island live in a natural environment and have cultural traditions that encourage healthy lifestyles. During 2005, 64 first grade children from the only public school of the island were studied. Nutritional evaluation according to BMI revealed a lower incidence of childhood obesity (12.5%) in relation to that time continental data (17.2%). The application of an oral survey also revealed healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity and low levels of TV viewing. The present study, performed during November 2014, evaluated the nutritional status of first grade children from Easter Island, analyzing eating and physical activity habits, and compared results with those obtained in 2005. 50 first grade students from the same and still the only public school of the island were included. The nutritional status was calculated according to their BMI. The 2005 previously validated survey was applied, obtaining information about their school snacks, home eating patterns, physical activity, TV viewing and computer use (“screen hours”). Average obesity in this sample was 24%, similar than described for national obesity levels (25.3%) in this age group. This finding contrast with that found in 2005, when obesity levels were much lower than the continental average. The actual study revealed a relatively healthy eating behavior, but a poor physical activity profile: the main change with 2005 was the increase in the “screen hours”. The majority of the students (62%) spent more than two hours/day viewing TV, computer or video games, which may explain the higher obesity levels.