Nutritional habits of middle-aged schoolchildren from Kaunas town and Raseiniai district

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate nutritional habits of middle-aged schoolchildren living in a town and district of Lithuania. Material and methods: The 8th-9th-grade schoolchildren were questioned by an anonymous questionnaire. A total of 329 students, 169 from Kaunas and 160 from Raseiniai district, participated in the study. Results: Only half of students reported that they had breakfast (61.3% of schoolboys and 47.6% of schoolgirls). More students from the district had dinner in the school canteen as compared to Kaunas students. Only 14.0% of schoolchildren followed nutrition regimen (14.8% of students from Kaunas and 13.1% of students from Raseiniai always had their meal at the same time). Every second schoolboy and schoolgirl consumed vegetables and fruits every day. Whole grain bread was consumed every day similarly frequently by students from Kaunas and Raseiniai, 25.4% and 18.8%, respectively; the students from Kaunas consumed skim milk more frequently, 26.0% and 11.9%, respectively (P<0.05). Confectionery was consumed more frequently by schoolchildren from Kaunas as compared to schoolchildren from Raseiniai district (63.9% vs. 55.0%); however, it was consumed more frequently by boys than girls. Less than one-fourth of Kaunas students (20.7%) consumed potato chips every day, whereas the percentage of the students from Raseiniai district was only 10.0% (P<0.05). Pizzas, kebabs, and hamburgers were consumed more frequently by schoolboys than schoolgirls. Knowledge of healthy nutrition was obtained mainly from media by 48.6% of students; every eighth student got this information from parents, every tenth from physicians, and 7.0% from teachers. Conclusions: Middle-aged students from both Kaunas town and Raseiniai district did not follow nutrition regimen; half of them did not have their breakfast before going to school. Fruits and vegetables as recommended foods were consumed by half of the participants; every fourth student consumed skim milk, and every fifth student consumed whole grain bread. The students more frequently consumed such foods as confectionery and smoked meat, which are not recommended (every second student); every fourth had an intake of carbonized drinks (the students from Kaunas more frequently) and potato chips (the students from Kaunas more frequently), and every tenth consumed pizzas and fried potatoes. More than half of students obtained knowledge of healthy nutrition from media, and every tenth - from the physicians.