Publications by authors named "Sylwia Merkiel"

Unlabelled: The last review of the literature on nutrition in Polish children covered the years 1980-1995. From that time living conditions in Poland have changed due to political and economic changes. Attitudes toward eating and healthy life-style have also changed.

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Background: Monitoring energy intake in preschool children is the basis for planning intervention programmes. The published articles in which energy intake in Polish preschool children was reported are still very few.

Objective: The objective was to assess energy intake in preschool children from Piła, including energy intake and intake of energy from macronutrients.

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Background: Among the studies published after the year 2000 which focused on nutrition at preschool, only three aimed to assess children's intake of energy and selected nutrients at preschool. The purpose of this study was to assess dietary intake in children during their stay at preschool.

Methods: The studied population comprised 128 4-6-year-old children who attended preschools in Piła, Poland.

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Background: Diet-related diseases have their origin as early as in childhood; therefore, preventing them should start from the first years of life. Each assessment of dietary intake should be preceded by assessment of health status indices, especially familial diet-related diseases prevalence.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse selected indices of health status in preschool children from Pila and their families in order to assess the risk of developing diet-related diseases.

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Background: Studies on vitamin and mineral intakes in children are very important: firstly because of the high prevalence of diet-related diseases and secondly because of the widespread consumption of highly processed foods which are characterised by high energy content and low density of essential nutrients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyse vitamin and mineral intakes in 6-year-old children from southern Poland.

Methods: Vitamin and mineral intakes were estimated from a three-day food record in 120 children, 64 girls and 56 boys, aged 6 years.

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Background: The studies on dietary intake in Polish children are sparse and the information about dietary intake in 6-year-olds in Europe is limited. The published studies on dietary intake in children rarely provide information on the intake of animal protein, plant protein and water. The purpose of the study was to analyse energy and macronutrient intakes in 6-year-old children from southern Poland.

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Background: Fitness has recently become a very popular form of physical activity among women. Since more and more fitness clubs are founded, more and more women take up the job of a fitness instructor or participate in fitness classes. Therefore, the studies on female fitness instructors and participants are of great relevance.

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The aim of this study was to assess physical fitness in 6- to 7-yr-old children and determine if there is any relationship between children's physical fitness, their urine iodine status, and their body-mass index (BMI). The studied population included 121 children from southern Poland. Physical fitness was measured using a physical fitness test for children age 3-7 yr.

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The aim of this study was to compare physical activity of preschool girls and boys from the Mazowsze region and their favourite ways of spending free time. The studied population included 131 children aged 3 to 7 years. Parents filled in questionnaires about their children's physical activity and favourite ways of spending free time, as well as about general information on the children and their families.

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The aim of this study was to assess knowledge about preparing meals of parents of preschool children from Nowy Sacz and the vicinity. The questionnaires on the principles of preparing meals were filled in by parents of 121 six-year-old children. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of the SPSS 12.

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The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of parents of preschool children from Nowy Sqcz and the vicinity about the role of nutrients and principles of composing a diet. Parents of 121 six-year-old children filled in the questionnaires on the role of nutrients and principles of composing a diet. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of the SPSS 12.

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