Eating habit and level of physical activity practice of eutrophic and obese boys

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to compare the eating habit and the level of physical activity practice of eutrophic and obese boys. Sixty male subjects(30 obese and 30 eutrophic), aged 10-14 years, were classified by the body mass index(BMI). Variables of body composition(body fat percent and fat free mass) were estimated by anthropometry and by bioelectrical impedance. The level of physical activity practice and the eating habit were evaluated by questionnaires. The results showed that the groups presented differences in the weight, BMI and in the BC. The eutrophic boys showed higher ingestion from the food group III at breakfast(p ≤ 0.04) and during the day(p ≤ 0.05), and from the food group VI during the school interval(p ≤ 0.03), and the obese showed higher ingestion of food group III at night(p ≤ 0.02). The eutrophic boys practice more intense and light activities(p=0,0001). In conclusion, the lack of physical activity, and not the kind and the frequency of ingested food, is the cause of the excess of body fat in these obese boys