Abstract
The article informs about the prevalence of overweight and obesity and about food habits and dietary patterns of school children in the West-Bohemian region. The data were collected from the cross-sectional study "Mapping the state of schoolchildren's health and obesity in Pilsen region".
The study proved an increasing trend in the prevalence of obesity and overweight among the school children. It has almost doubled compared to the year 1991: overall, overweight and obesity were found in 19.7% of school children (19.5% of 8-9 years old and 19.8% of 12-13 years old).
Although the study did not demonstrate an increase in energy intake of school children in comparison to our study from 2003, there was confirmed the deterioration of undesirable habits coming with age - only less than half (47%) 8-9 years old and only 37% of 12-13 years old school children accomplish the intake of fruit and vegetables at least once or more times per day. In the overall comparison to 2003, the energy value of food and fat intake have decreased slightly. 19.7% of children aged 8-9 and 19% of schoolchildren aged 12 to 13 drink sweetened beverages at least once a day.
Fastfood among primary school children is minor, it is eaten at most by 0.5% of schoolchildren from both age categories, but there can be seen a negative trend in the rising frequency of intake with increasing age. Conversely, the number of children with regular eating habits decreases with age; at the age of 12-13 it is 15.8 % less than at the age of 8-9.
The project was funded by the Regional Authority of the Pilsen Region from the grant award called "Healthy Pilsen Region".