[Physical activity and health habits in Argentinian undergraduates]. / Actividad física y hábitos de salud en estudiantes universitarios argentinos.

OBJECTIVE: Deterioration of healthy habits in young people, particularly undergraduates, justifies their study in these populations. The aim of the present research is to analyze physical activity levels of students from the Universidad Nacional de La Matanza (Argentina), trying to describe homogeneous groups by demographic characteristics, health habits and perceived wellbeing, and to identify the level of physical activity that best describes each of the groups. METHODOLOGY: Participants were 554 students (281 males and 273 females) of different careers which were applied the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and a survey related to health habits, perception of happiness and other demographic variables. Measures of central tendency and variability, and percentiles P25 and P75, were calculated for all variables. Segmentation was performed using hierarchical cluster analysis, after a previous factor analysis. RESULTS: 79.8% of students, and 97.2% of Physical Education students met the recommendations of physical activity. Students identified with a high physical activity level were those who attended in day shift, did not smoke, did not consume alcohol or drugs, did not work, had no children or stable partner, and with a medium socio-economic level. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested the need for a strong educational intervention by universities to promote healthy habits and regular performance of physical activity, as they have a primary social responsibility regarding these issues.

Objetivo: El deterioro de los hábitos saludables en los jóvenes, particularmente universitarios, justifica su investigación en dichas poblaciones. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar los niveles de actividad física en estudiantes de la Universidad Nacional de La Matanza (Argentina), intentando describir grupos homogéneos según características demográficas, de hábitos de salud y de percepción de bienestar, e identificando el nivel de actividad física que mejor describa a cada uno de los grupos. Metodología: Participaron 554 estudiantes (281 varones y 273 mujeres) de distintas carreras a los que se aplicó el Cuestionario Global de Actividad Física (GPAQ) y un instrumento sobre hábitos de salud, percepción de felicidad y diversas variables demográficas. Se calcularon medidas de tendencia central y variabilidad, así como los percentiles P25 y P75, para todas las variables. Se realizó una segmentación mediante análisis de clusters jerárquico, con un análisis de factores previo. Resultados: El 79,8% de los estudiantes, y el 97,2% de aquellos que cursaban Educación Física cumplían con las recomendaciones de realización de actividad física. Los alumnos que se identificaban con un nivel de actividad física alto eran los que cursaban en turno diurno, no consumían tabaco, alcohol ni drogas, no trabajaban, no tenían hijos ni pareja estable, y poseían un nivel socio- económico medio. Conclusiones: Se sugiere la necesidad de una sólida intervención educativa por parte de las universidades para fomentar hábitos saludables y la realización regular de actividad física, ya que tienen una responsabilidad social primaria respecto a estas problemáticas.

El peso transportado en las mochilas escolares: Un estudio en cuatro escuelas de la región metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina / A study concerning how much weight schoolchildren carry in their bags, involving four schools in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

RESUMEN Objetivo Determinar el peso transportado del equipaje escolar (en valores absolutos y relativos) y la distancia caminada en los trayectos hogar-escuela, en escolares de cuatro escuelas de la región metropolitana de Buenos Aires. Métodos Se estudiaron 751 alumnos (394 varones y 357 mujeres, de 9 a 18 años) de niveles primario (4to. a 6to. grados), y secundario (1ro. a 3er. años) de tres escuelas de gestión privada y una pública. Se midieron los pesos corporal y del equipaje escolar, y se indagó sobre la distancia desde la escuela al hogar, y sobre las cuadras caminadas en este trayecto. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y contrastes según género, nivel educativo, tipo de escuela y grados y años cursados. Se verificaron posibles asociaciones entre variables. Se dividió al grupo en dos: quienes transportaban menos del 10 % de su peso corporal, y los que acarreaban el 10 % (considerado como valor crítico) y más, calculándose las frecuencias según tipo de equipaje utilizado. Resultados El 68 % de los evaluados transporta un peso por encima del 10 % del peso corporal (P42=10,13 %), siendo del 66 % para varones (P44 = 10,12 %) y 60 % para mujeres (P40=10,2 %). En escuelas privadas se acarrearon mayores pesos que en públicas (p<0,05); y en ambos niveles educativos los alumnos de cursos inferiores transportaron pesos superiores que los de grados superiores (p<0,05). Conclusiones La mayoría de los alumnos transporta pesos relativos por encima de las recomendaciones, siendo las mujeres las más perjudicadas. Los más pequeños cargan pesos absolutos y relativos mayores.

ABSTRACT Objective Determining the weight children carry in their bags to school (absolute and relative values) and the distance walked during home-school routes, involving students from four schools in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. Method The study involved 751 primary (4th to 6th grades) and secondary (1st to 3rd years) level students who were attending three private schools and one public one. Body and bag weights were measured and the children were asked about the distance (in blocks) they walked from school to home. The study involved a descriptive analysis and contrasted the students by gender, educational level, type of school and grade or year. Possible associations between variables were ascertained. The group was divided into those carrying bags weighing less than 10% of their body weight and those who carrying 10% (considered a critical value) and more; frequencies were calculated by the type of bag being used. Results 68% of the sample were carrying 10% or more of their body weight (P42=10.13%): 66% in male (P44=10.12%) and 60% in female children (P40=10.2%). Private school students carried more weight than public school children (p<0.05) and younger students carried a greater weight than older students (p<0.05) in both educational levels. Conclusions Most children were carrying relative weights well above that recommended and female students were most affected. Younger students carried higher absolute and relative weights.

[A study concerning how much weight schoolchildren carry in their bags, involving four schools in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina]. / El peso transportado en las mochilas escolares: Un estudio en cuatro escuelas de la región metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina

OBJECTIVE: Determining the weight children carry in their bags to school (absolute and relative values) and the distance walked during home-school routes, involving students from four schools in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. METHOD: The study involved 751 primary (4th to 6th grades) and secondary (1st to 3rd years) level students who were attending three private schools and one public one. Body and bag weights were measured and the children were asked about the distance (in blocks) they walked from school to home. The study involved a descriptive analysis and contrasted the students by gender, educational level, type of school and grade or year. Possible associations between variables were ascertained. The group was divided into those carrying bags weighing less than 10% of their body weight and those who carrying 10% (considered a critical value) and more; frequencies were calculated by the type of bag being used. RESULTS: 68% of the sample were carrying 10% or more of their body weight (P42=10.13%): 66% in male (P44=10.12%) and 60% in female children (P40=10.2%). Private school students carried more weight than public school children (p<0.05) and younger students carried a greater weight than older students (p<0.05) in both educational levels. CONCLUSIONS: Most children were carrying relative weights well above that recommended and female students were most affected. Younger students carried higher absolute and relative weights.