Evaluation of nutrition, growth and developments of primary school students in two districts of ankara

Social life and therefore dietary habits of the children starting to school changes.The children who have to spend most of their time outside of home are fed unbalanced and live health problems accordingly, school success is also affected.This study is a descriptive type one realized between December 2009-February 2011 for the purpose of evaulating the physical activity behaviours having important share in protection and development of health, determining of nutrition, growth-development, school success situations of two primary schools students at different socio-economic level in Etimesgut and Çankaya Districts of Ankara Province.Questionnaire form including descriptive information, activity and nutritional properties related to students and their families was distributed to guardians, the questionnaire form containing success status to class teachers.Body Mass Index of total 317 students were calculated by measuring their heigths and weights.Weight and height evaluation on the basis of gender was made according to the percentile curves belonging to Turkish children, prepared by Olcay Neyzi.In our study, percentage of doing exercise, making physical activity is at medium level and sparing time on TV/Computer, fast-food consumption habit are high, the difference between schools was found significant.Finally, awareness of children should be raised on sufficient and balanced nutrition in schools, the time spared on TV/Computer should be audited by families and they should be supported about physical activity.In general, all society should also be enlightened on the importance of nutrition at school age.