Physical and leisure activities in various groups of children in Catania (Italy)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of some habits that are today considered to substantially influence the physical development, in a sample of 505 8 to 10 year old children of either sex of three differet schools in Catania (Italy), located in a residential area, in a suburban area of modest existance, and in a small town of the province. The study was carried out by menas of close-question questionnaires. The body mass index (BMI) was determined in all children and the socioeconomical conditions of the family were evaluated. The answers showe that only the 30.6% of all children walken to and from school; among them, the children of the suburban area displayed a higher extent. Of the 505 children, 60.4% partecipated in extra-school physical activities. The children of suburban area proved less active and the higher percentages of obese children (14.3%) was found in this group. The percentage of children whatching TV for longer than 2 hours per day amounted to 88.4% and 95.3% regularly played in the open air. Among the children of the three different schools, no significant differences were found in open air activities, thime spent whatching TV, and playing with videogames.