Nutrition and exercise in children.

Various surveys and research studies carried out in the scientific world have expressed general consensus on the preventive role of regular physical exercise associated with a correct and adequate diet. A sedentary style of life is the common etiopathogenetic basis of "paramorphism" of the different organs and system that generate the hypokinetic syndrome. Therefore it is important to adopt a correct life style from childhood. For this purpose 1208 subjects aged between 6 and 14 years, in an Italian rural area, have been studied for nutritional habits, anthropometric parameters, nutritional state and motor abilities (Di.S.Co. project:experimental community project for preventing chronic-degenerative diseases). The population was divided in: subjects participating to organized sport activities and sedentary subjects; and then subjects of different ages between 9 and 14 years; results regarding anthropometric parameters, body composition and the predominance of overweight and obesity are given. Our study has shown widespread tendency to incorrect nutrition habits, also in those doing organized sports, and a low attitude to volontary physical activity. School represents a privileged institution for releasing and promoting correct life style beginning from the younger age.