Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Sofia"
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- Cluster Analysis to the Factors Related to the Dissemination of Information About Healthy Eating in a School Population of Young AdolescentsPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Fernandes, SofiaAbstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate how the young adolescent students get information about healthy eating. The study was done by a questionnaire, which was previously approved for application in schools. The sample consisted of 345 students, aged between 13 and 15 years. Factor analysis allowed concluding that the variables used to assess the sources of information about healthy eating can be grouped into two factors: one linked to learning outside of school and the other associated with learning in school. The Cronbach's alphas were 0.661 and 0.676, respectively. Cluster analysis showed that the adolescents can be divided into four groups: cluster 1-students well informed both by school and external sources; cluster 2-students misinformed either by school or by external sources; cluster 3-students misinformed by school but well informed by external sources, cluster 4-students well informed by school but barely by external sources. The findings in the present work may allow improving the way information about healthy eating can reach the adolescents, and hence improve their general degree of knowledge and wellbeing.
- Factors affecting the BMI in adolescents attending the 2nd and 3rd cycles in Portuguese schools from ViseuPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Fernandes, Sofia; Abrantes, José Luís; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Ferreira, ManuelaIntroduction: Many studies show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children is rapidly increasing and developing into a major public health problem worldwide. Objectives: To assess the Body Mass Index (BMI) in school children from 2nd and 3rd cycles in Viseu schools and identify the sociodemographic, behavioural and educational factors that are related to the BMI. Methods: This is a quantitative descriptive and explanatory study with a convenience sample of 742 students attending schools of the 2nd and 3rd cycles in Viseu. The study was carried out by means of a questionnaire, which was produced for this study and previously submitted to the approval of the competent authority (DGE) for application in school context. Results: It was found that some sociodemographic factors were associated with BMI, namely age, school year, practicing high competition sport, being federate in a sport or vegetarian diet. Regarding the educational factors associated with BMI these included only the seminars given at school by specialist in nutrition. Furthermore, a significant relation between BMI and SF was found, where SF represents the school sources of knowledge. Finally among the behavioural factors associated to BMI stood: learning in classes, playing in the open air, reading books and use of internet. Conclusions: The results reinforce the need of adolescents to practice a healthy lifestyle and the role of family and school in providing the right information to help making right food choices. Finally in the sample at study the incidence of overweight and obesity was not at all preoccupying, thus indicating that the efforts to provide a good education both at home and at school are adequate and must be carried on.
- Factors Affecting the Body Mass Index in Adolescents in Portuguese SchoolsPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Fernandes, Sofia; Ferreira, Manuela; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Abrantes, José LuísThe prevalence of overweight and obesity among children is increasing; hence, it was aimed to assess the Body Mass Index (BMI) in school children aged from 10 to 18 years for girls and to 17 for boys, as well as to identify the factors influencing BMI. This study included 742 students who answered a questionnaire previously approved for application in schools. The results showed some sociodemographic factors associated with BMI classes: age, school year, practicing high competition sport, being federate in a sport or having a vegetarian diet. The educational factors associated with BMI classes included only seminars given at school by a nutritionist. Behavioural factors significantly associated with BMI included: learning in classes, playing in the open air, reading books or use of internet. As conclusion, the results demonstrated that several factors affect BMI, and hence some actions could be taken in order to change them so as to reduce the prevalence of overweight, namely reinforcing the role of school and a more active participation of nutritionists in the education of the adolescents.
- Influence of food education in eating habits in students from 2nd and 3rd cycles in viseu schoolsPublication . Fernandes, Sofia; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Abrantes, José Luís; Ferreira, Manuela; Guiné, RaquelIntroduction: Food Education as a means of promoting a healthy diet is very important nowadays, given the problems identified in the eating habits of the young’s, resulting in public health problems. The intervention strategies haven’t proved to be very effective and therefore children and young students still reveal inadequate diets and sedentary lifestyles. Objectives: Verify the level of knowledge about food and habits of the students; Analyze how the information provided by educators is sufficient to promote a healthy diet; Understand if physical activity is being neglected at the expense of the use of new technologies in relation to the maintenance of healthy habits. Methods: This is an investigation of descriptive-correlational nature based on a questionnaire. The target population of this study was the students in Viseu schools. The sample consisted of students aged between 10 and 15 years from the 5th to the 9th levels. It was randomly selected among classes belonging to each level of education. The data collected was analyzed by SPSS, using the Descriptive and Inferential Statistics. Results: The majority of students revealed a deficient knowledge about the concept of healthy diet, and the recommended dosages for the main groups of foods. Furthermore, the evaluation of the eating habits of the students showed that sometimes they prefer foods that please, like chocolate or chips, for example in disfavor of foods that promote health, such as fruits, milk or soup. Conclusions: The food education is still a challenge and a major investment must be made on this area so as to promote health and minimize the important public health problems in future generations.
- Regression model of the factors that influence weight of young adolescentsPublication . Guiné, Raquel; Fernandes, SofiaExcess of weight is a preoccupation for public health worldwide and is common among children and adolescents. This work intended to produce a model to predict weight of young people between 10 and 15 years depending on several tested independent variables: height, age, gender, physical activity, frequency of eating in Fast Food restaurants, the habits of eating at home, the eating of healthy or non-healthy foods. For this diverse tools for regression analysis were employed. The results allowed encountering a model that included four from the eight variables tested and excluded the other four, for not being explanatory of weight under the conditions tested. Finally, the regression model was subject to verification of the assumptions for application of this kind of model, and in light of the results obtained, it was concluded that the model can be applied as a predictive model for weight, for the population of young adolescents aged between 10 and 15 years.