ECEESPE2025 Poster Presentations MTEabolism, Nutrition and Obesity (125 abstracts)
The rising burden of childhood obesity: prevention could start at primary school
Tommaso Aversa 1 , Debora Porri 1 , Giovanni Luppino 1 , Letteria Anna Morabito 2 , Elisa La Rosa 2 , Giorgia Pepe 1 , Domenico Corica 1 , Mariella Valenzise 1 , Maria Francesca Messina 1 , Alessandra Li Pomi 1 , Aurora Lanzafame 1 , Angela Alibrandi 3 & Malgorzata Wasniewska 1
1Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina., Messina, Italy; 2Pediatric Unit, “G. Martino” University Hospital, Messina, Italy; 3Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
JOINT3676
Background: Physical activity (PA), dietary habits, and sleep hygiene are crucial for the prevention of childhood obesity (CO) early in life. Early prevention is foundamental to reduce the long-term health risks associated with CO, and schools can serve as an effective setting for promoting healthy behaviors. The “EpPOI: Education to Prevent CO” project aimed to investigate these factors through caregiver surveys, the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (Kid-Med), and the MOBAK assessment of functional movement skills (FMS).
Methods: Caregivers completed an online survey about their children’s PA, sleep hygiene, and dietary habits. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed using the Kid-Med questionnaire. The FMS of 102 children aged 3–5 were evaluated with the MOBAK test, and caregivers rated their children’s motor skills using a Likert-scale questionnaire.
Results : Diet 95 mothers completed the survey. Only 5. 3% of children achieved a Kid-Med score reflecting adequate MD adherence, despite over 50% of respondents reporting regular consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and olive oil. However, 50. 5% of children consumed sweets daily, and 80% skipped breakfast. Parental perception of their child’s PA significantly predicted MD adherence, with PA positively correlating with fruit (P < 0. 034), vegetable (P < 0. 015), and fish consumption (P < 0. 005). PA: Despite 61. 1% of children regularly participating in sports activity, only 20. 5% achieved a satisfactory MOBAK total score (Score 3). Boys scored higher than girls in locomotion (Score 2) and total motor skills (Score 3) (P < 0. 026, P < 0. 016, respectively). A significant negative correlation was found between BMI and Score 3 (P < 0. 030). Parents significantly overestimated their children’s motor skills (P = 0. 0001).
Conclusions: This study highlights the gap between caregivers’ perceptions and the actual behaviors or abilities of pre-school children regarding lifestyle habits. Most children demonstrated low adherence to the MD, with poor dietary habits such as frequent sweet consumption and skipping breakfast. Although sports participation was common, motor skill proficiency was limited, particularly among children with higher BMI. Effective CO prevention requires an integrated approach combining adherence to healthy dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet, enhanced parental awareness, and the promotion of physical activity. Schools, as accessible community structures, can play a pivotal role in fostering these behaviors early in life.
Keywords Physical activity, Mediterranean diet, functional movement skills, childhood obesity, childhood obesity prevention, school-based interventions.
Volume 110
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Endocrine Abstracts
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