The effect of nutrition and physical activity on functional constipation in children

Objective: As a result of inability or inadequate defecation, normal and hard defecation is called constipation. Decreased physical activity and changes in nutritional habits are considered as risk factors for constipation in children. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of nutritional properties and physical activity level on functional constipation in children with functional constipation. Material-Method: A total of 300 children were included, including 150 patients who were followed by Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and 150 healthy volunteers who came to our policlinic routine controls, Parental information form, Nutrition Behavior Scale, Child Physical Activity Survey was applied. SPSS version 20.00 (IBM, Newyork, United States) program was used in the analysis of the data, p <0.05 level was considered significant. Results: Constipation group children and control group were similar in terms of gender (p = 0.563). The average age of children diagnosed with constipation is 9.18 ± 3.14 and the average age of the control group is 9.42 ± 3.49. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of average age (p = 0.743). The average height of the patient group is 132.38 ± 18.26 cm. and the average height of the control group is 134.38 ± 19.52 cm. When the mean averages of the patient and control groups were compared, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.446). When the weights of the groups are examined, the average weight of the total group is 34.00 ± 13.57 kg. The mean weight of the patient group is 33.80 ± 14.26 kg. and the mean weight of the control group was 34.13 ± 13.18 kg. When the patient and control groups were compared in terms of body weight, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.446). While the "Nutritional Behavior Scale" (NBS) score mean of the patient group was -7.04±4,19 and control group's was 9.24±4,00. The child physical activity level score (CPA) of the patient group was 49.75±4,00, and the control group was 82.81±11,05. When both groups are compared, there is a significant difference in favor of the control 52 group (p <0.05). The socio-demographic characteristics of both groups were not related to NBS and CPA scores (p> 0.05). Conclusion: In this study although the patient and control groups are similar in many respects, it has been observed that eating habits and physical activity have an effect on functional constipation. Trainings to increase healthy eating and physical activity for children will be effective in reducing constipation.