Evaluation of some nutritional and sport aspects in sedentary and active adolescents: analysis in Italian and Romanian school

The aim was to investigate the nutritional behaviour and level of physical activity in Italian and Romanian adolescents. The survey was carried out on 1050 healthy adolescents students, aged 13-14 years, from two different European regions: Tuscany (Italy) and Giurgiu (Romania). They were subdivided in two groups about their lifestyles: sedentary (525) and active students (non competitive sports-525) depending on their answers to a specific questionnaire. Sex, weight, nationality, daily activities and dietary habits of students were all collected by questionnaires. Our data show differences in the student's lifestyles: Italian groups spend less hours engaged in physical activity than Romanian ones; the survey reveals also that for active Romanian adolescents a large percentage of their caloric intake comes from lipids. Data of this study show an incorrect dietary and lifestyle habits in both Italian and Romanian children respect to International Guidelines It is important to design a global strategy to improve dietary habits of the young European population according to the gastronomic traditions of each country. This study will be helpful to plan corrective nutritional and behavioural programs.