I wrote yesterday about the relevant role played by parents in determining the lifestyle physically active or passive of their children. Today, the results of the research titled “Piccoli più” have been presented and unfortunately they are not positive for the Italian parents. This study is a national project funded and promoted by the National Centre for Prevention and Disease Control – Ministry of Health. The research is based on the observation of 3000 children in five Italian cities. The participants were studied through questionnaires completed by parents and visits at 6, 12, 24 months of life. Unfortunately, the results demonstrate the negative role played by many parents in the first year of life, that with their lifestyle stimulate the children to a sedentary lifestyle.
Healthy weight – Comparing the weights and heights of children participating in the project with the guidelines of the World Health Organization it has been showed that at 12 months 23.4% of males and 22.1% of females is above the threshold used to define overweight. Childhood obesity is already present in the first year.
Accidents in the 1st year of life – The 21.2% of the children had an accident in the first 12 months of life, largely a fall from a mezzanine floor which necessitated the emergency room.
Use of TV, PC and tablet – 72% of parents stated that the child of one year uses the television or other electronic media (PC, tablet, smartphone) with no difference between weekdays or weekends. In 21% of cases the exposure is already more than 1 hour per day. The 8% of parents said to leave the child alone in front of the television.
Moving – Only 1 in 4 women have practiced sport during pregnancy on regular basis. Also 1 in 3 women reported having risen at least once a week in activities like walking or cycling on average for 3-4 hours a week.
