Body mass index correlates with waist circumference in school aged Italian children.

This study demonstrates the existence of a linear correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference in Italian school aged children and suggests an indirect method (from weight and height) to estimate waist circumference, whose increase may be indicative for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome.

Psychomotor, cognitive and social interactions in elderly and old Italians. Preliminary report.

It was the aim of this pilot study to investigate effects of motor activity on psychosocial and functional-physical conditions (using an assisted multidimensional questionnaire) of 53 (39 female, 14 male) free living elderly and old subjects in Florence, Italy. In addition, ADL (test of Activities of Daily Living) and Pfeiffer test (short portable mental status questionnaire) were applied to test autonomy of everyday life and presence of intellectual disturbance of organic origin. Motor activity appeared to influence significantly psychosocial and functional-physical conditions, i.