2. Consideration of the lifestyle, based on the data obtained through body index measurement of school children

【Method】

2-1. Body index measurement using a body composition measuring device

Subject: nine children (average age of 10 years old)

 Measurement condition: The operation and measurement was carried out with the children using a portable body composition analyzer (Inbody 470, InBody Japan Inc.). The body index data such as body weight (BMI), muscle mass, body fat mass, etc. obtained through a body composition measurement were analyzed using a Lookin’Body software. The feedbacks about the measurement results were given to the participated children and their parents

 

2-2. Collection of the basic data on daily activities by an accelerometer device

Subject: nine children (average age of 10 years old)

Measurement condition: Kenz Life Coder GS4 sec. version (SUZUKEN) (width 7.2 cm, height 4.2 cm, thickness 2.9 cm, weight 45 g, with hooks to attach) was attached to the waist of the subject. The daily activities were carried out as usual for 10 days from Friday to the next Sunday (after wakening up in the morning to bathing at night), and the activity amount was measured. The daily activity amount was analyzed based on the amount of time for moderate exercise and the number of steps, using a Lifelyzer 05 Coach software (SUZUKEN).

 

2-3. Research on eating behavior and lifestyle

 Subject: nine children (average age of 10 years old)

 Measurement condition: A questionnaire survey on eating behavior & habit (BDHQ 15y, 2009 school) equivalent to five A4 sheets and another questionnaire survey on the daily life, health awareness and knowledge of traditional foods, equivalent to one A4 sheet, were conducted at the same time. These questionnaires were filled out by the participated children and their parents while discussing together at home and then submitted. The feedback on the diagnostic result of their eating behavior & habit based on the answers for the questionnaire was given to the participating children and parents

 

 

【Results and Discussion】

2-1. Body index measurement using a body composition measuring device

 The measurement results of the body indexes (BMI, body fat percentage (%), muscle mass) of the nine children from the participated elementary school were obtained. Since these subjects were the 4th grade elementary school children in the growth and development process, their BMI figures were expected to be different from those for adults. There was a positive correlation between the BMI and body fat percentage, BMI and muscle mass, and between body fat percentage and muscle mass in these 9 growing subjects. In addition, the individual differences were obvious in each body index

                                                                                             

2-2. Collection of the basic data on daily activity amount using an accelerometer device

The measurement results of average daily activity amounts (the number of steps, general activity time, moderate activity time) of the nine children from the participating elementary schools were obtained. Seven of the nine children reached approximately 9,000 steps, which was the target number of steps taken per day. As for the time for moderate exercise, which is considered to burn the body fat related to obesity, six children exceeded 30 minutes set as the standard. The fewest was 22 minutes. In relation to the body indexes, the correlation between BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass and the number of steps and moderate exercise time was not clear. Probably because the effect of activity amount on these body indexes are not clearly observed in those children in the growth process.

 

2-3. Research on eating behavior and lifestyle

 The results of the questionnaire survey on eating behavior & habit, and another questionnaire survey on daily life, health awareness and knowledge of traditional food, for the nine children from the participated elementary school were collected. In the eating behavior & habit questionnaire survey of 10 children, the intake ratio of protein: lipid: sugar was almost within the daily intake ratio which is regarded as the standard. As for individual nutrient, excessive amount of salt had been ingested by all but one child. In addition, half of the children had ingested an excessive amount of fat. In Japan today, it is said that calcium and iron intakes are deficient in almost all age groups. Also, in this survey, half of these children were deficient in calcium intake, and the tendency of iron deficiency was observed in all children. In terms of the diet balance, it was found that the improvement is urgently required, based on the fact that too much main dish and not enough side dish, almost no fruits and a fair amount of sweets or candy were taken.

 From the measurement results of the questionnaire survey on the daily life, health awareness and knowledge of traditional foods as well as the measurement result of activity amount, it was observed that the half of these children recognized the activity time for less or for more than the actual activity time. A certain gap was observed between the amount of time these children were aware of and the actual amount of time for moderate activities. Most of these children knew that fat is increased by eating too much sweets, decreased with exercise. They also knew the proper way of eating which helps reducing fat. However, it was revealed that all these children had regularly consumed too much sweets and fats, and that the above knowledges had not been reflected in their behavior. It is understood that these knowledges were obtained passively through other persons or media such as television, not the ones learned positively.