Exercise and dietary behaviors among primary and middle school students in Shangdong Province and the related risk factors / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practice on exercise and dietary behaviors among the primary and middle school pupils in Shandong province, and to provide a theoretical basis for a targeted education on diet and physical health among the primary and middle school students.@*Methods@#A questionnaire survey was conducted among 6 161 students from 3 cities in Shandong province by random cluster sampling.@*Results@#Self-reported rate of having breakfast every day for primary and middle school students were 85.0% and 75.3% ,respectively(χ2=84.0，P<0.01). 41.2% of primary school students were reported to do physical exercises more than 60 minutes every day and the rate was only 29.6% for middle school students(χ2=270.0，P<0.01). 39.2% of boys were reported to do physical exercises more than 60 minutes every day and the rate was 28.7% for the girls(χ2=90.4，P<0.01). The awareness rates of knowledge about dietary and physical exercise among primary and middle school students were 44.4% and 55.8%, respectively(χ2=702.0，P<0.01). The awareness rates among boys and girls were 50.4% and 51.9% respectively (χ2=12.4，P<0.01). Parents’ occupation, knowledge score and education level of mother were influencing factors of breakfast behavior everyday. The physical exercise was influenced by gender, parents' occupation, knowledge score and education level of mother.@*Conclusion@#It is necessary to educate students to take healthy diet and have more physia1 activities. Families, schools and government departments need to take feasible measures to ensure the time and intensity of pupils’ physical exercise through many ways.