CHILD NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ADHERENCE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

The objective of the study was to know the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet by the students measured with the Test Kidmed and its relationship with the Body Mass Index, sex of the students, year they study, practice of sports outside school hours and practice of sports by the parents of these students. 617 Primary Education students between 6 and 12 years old, with an average age of 10.47 years, from the cities of Salamanca and Zamora participated. The results revealed that the students obtained values of average adherence to the Mediterranean diet, thus appreciating a greater adherence to the diet by the students who practiced sports and whose parents also carried out physical sports activities. In conclusion, the need to modify the habits of the population towards healthier patterns through nutritional and sports education programmes during the Primary Education stage was evident.