Lifestyle and health behavior of school aged children in Krasnoyarsk (Russia), Lithuania and Grodno (Belarus)
| Author(s) | |
|---|---|
Klimatskaya, Ludmila | Pedagogical University of Krasnoyarsk named after V.P. Astafiev, Russia |
Shpakou, Andrei Ivanovich | Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, Belarus |
| Date Issued |
|---|
2011 |
Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the complex interaction of lifestyle-elements of school-aged children in Krasnoyarsk (Russia), Lithuania and Grodno (Belarus) for inactivity overweight and malnutrition that is ranked among the most frequent risk factors concerning the healthy development of children. Material and methods: Participants from all countries (n=3038) have completed a questionnaire in a classroom setting. The instruments used to assess different lifestyle areas: nutritional behaviour, media consumption and sports club membership. Results: The research is based on the hypothesis that the development of adolescents` lifestyles is a complex process in which physical activity, eating habits and media consumption play the major role. Krasnoyarsk has the lowest percentage of over-weight and obesity, in Belarus the percentage of underweight children increases with higher status. With regard to media consumption, our data allow to differentiate television consumption (about four hours and more per day) on the one hand and computer consumption. Belarus has the lowest position in this point. The degree of organization in sports clubs differ significantly among the countries. In Russia and Lithuania, the percentage is more below-average, but the percentage of children with a very high workload (three or more days per week) is extra high. Conclusions: Significant differences concerning health behavior of children as well between the countries as within the countries were found. In all dimensions, gender-specific differences are most distinct in Belarus.