Teachers in Slovenia have been noticing the increased consumption of energy drinks among pupils. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate habits that contribute to the frequency of ...energy drink consumption.
36 teens participated in the study: elementary school pupils (6th and 8th grades), general upper secondary school pupils, and secondary technical school pupils (1st and 3rd year). In the course of the study 6 group interviews were held to help investigate young people's habits and their reasons for energy drink purchase and consumption. Moreover, we investigated the influence of age on the consumption and knowledge about energy drink ingredients, as well as their influence on the body.
Interview analysis showed that energy drink consumers are predominantly secondary school pupils. Their choice most frequently depends on the price, their taste, or the brand. What influences elementary school pupils' purchasing decisions are price, packaging, and advertisements, while secondary school pupils choose their drinks according to the lack of energy and how tired they feel. The predominant factors preventing energy drink consumption are health problems among family members and friends. Secondary school pupils know more about energy drink ingredients than elementary school pupils.
On the basis of these findings, we will design a survey questionnaire for Slovenian teenagers and teachers, didactic material, and suggestions for improving educational programmes.
Uvod. Podatki iz tujine kažejo, da začnejo kaditi praviloma mladostniki in mladi odrasli. Za Slovenijo imamo o tem malo podatkov. Namen prispevka je prikaz podatkov o starosti ob začetku kajenja in ...razlik v začetku kajenja glede na spol, starostne skupine, izobrazbo, družbeni sloj in geografsko regijo med prebivalci v Sloveniji.
Izhodišča. Podatki iz do sedaj znanih študij, ki opisujejo povezavo med telesno aktivnostjo v prostem času, oblikami sedečega vedenja ter uživanjem psihoaktivnih snovi med mladostniki, so si ...nasprotujoči. Namen študije je bil preučiti povezanost med samoocenjeno telesno aktivnostjo in oblikami sedečega vedenja (uporaba računalnika, gledanje televizije) v prostem času ter uporabo alkohola, tobaka in marihuane med mladostniki v Sloveniji.
The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertensive and elevated blood pressure in the hypertensive range (elevated BP) and obtain some anthropometric measures in Slovene children ...and adolescents.
In the cross-sectional study lasting one year, we measured BP using mercury sphygmomanometers, as well as height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences in schools. Data from regular check-ups (oscillometric measurements) were also added to increase the sample size. Participants were 2-19 years old. For statistical analysis, we used two-sided multivariate analysis of variance, Pearson's r, and chi-squared test.
From altogether 1594 participants, 723 (45.4%) were boys and 871 (54.6%) girls. The prevalence of elevated BP on a single oscillometric blood-pressure measurement was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.3 to 13.9), and an additional 13.9% (95% CI: 12.0 to 15.9) had prehypertensive BP. In Riva-Rocci measurements, elevated BP was present in only 7.1% (95% CI: 4.9 to 10.1) and prehypertensive BP additionally in 3.9% (95% CI: 2.4 to 6.4) in comparison to oscillometric measurements, which showed higher prevalence. Importantly, overweight participants had a 1.75 times greater relative risk for prehypertensive BP (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.53; p<0.01). Obesity carried a 1.79 times greater relative risk (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.63; p<0.01) for BP outside of the normotensive BP range.
Arterial hypertension is becoming an important public health problem, especially due to the childhood obesity. It seems to concern also Slovene young population with prevalence of elevated BP at around 7.1% after a single auscultatory BP measurement.
Introduction. The pandemic of obesity in adolescents is one of the challenges of public health.
Aim. The aim of this study was to examine the association of overweight with demographic, socioeconomic ...and lifestyle factors among Serbian adolescents.
Method. A cross-sectional study of 2139 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years was carried out. Data used in this study were from the 2006 Health Survey. In accordance with the international sex- and age-specific Body Mass Index cut-off points, all participants were classified as being normal weight or overweight, including obese. The association between the risk factors and overweight were examined using a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results. The study showed that 28.9% of boys and 17.0% of girls were overweight, while 14.5% of boys and 8.1% of girls were obese. Boys were more likely to be overweight/obese, compared with girls. Being younger (p< 0.01 for 14 to 15 years) and (p< 0.01, for 16 to 19 years), engaging in physical activities that last less than 7 hours a week, in such a manner that they breathe quickly and become sweaty, (p< 0.01) and skipping breakfast (p< 0.05) were risk factors significantly associated with overweight among adolescents. No significant association was found with wealth index.
Conclusion. These findings should be an integral part of further preventive interventions, especially oriented towards younger adolescents, who are physically inactive, have a habit of skipping breakfast and are boys.
Namen. Pandemija debelosti pri mladostnikih predstavlja enega večjih izzivov za javno zdravje.
Cilj. Cilj te raziskave je bil preveriti povezanost prekomerne telesne teže med srbskimi mladostniki z demografskimi in s socialno-ekonomskimi dejavniki ter z dejavniki, ki so povezani z načinom življenja.
Metoda. Narejena je bila presečna študija z 2.139 mladostniki, ki so bili stari od 10 do 19 let. Za podatke v tej študiji so bile uporabljene vrednosti iz Health Survey 2006. Glede na mednarodno sprejete vrednosti indeksa telesne mase, povezane z odgovarjajočim spolom in starostjo, so bili vsi udeleženci uvrščeni v skupine z normalno težo, s prekomerno telesno težo in z debelostjo. Za ugotavljanje povezave med dejavniki tveganja in prekomerno telesno težo je bila uporabljena statistična metoda multivariantne logistične regresije.
Rezultati. Raziskava je pokazala, da je imelo 28,9% fantov in 17,0% deklet zvišano telesno težo, in sicer je bilo 14,5% fantov in 8,1% deklet debelih. V primerjavi z dekleti so bili fantje debelejši ali so imeli zvišano telesno težo. Za naslednje dejavnike tveganja smo ugotovili statistično pomembno povezavo s prekomerno telesno težo med mladostniki (starost 14-15 let (p<0,01) in 16-19 let (p<0,01)), ukvarjanje s telovadbo, ki povzroča hitro dihanje in potenje manj kot 7 ur dnevno(p< 0,01), ter vsakodnevno izogibanje zajtrku (p< 0,05). Na drugi strani ni statistično pomembne povezave med zvišano telesno težo/debelostjo in indeksom družinskega bogastva.
Zaključek. Ugotovitve naše študije bi lahko imele vpliv na preventivne ukrepe, ki bi bili posebej usmerjeni v mladostnike moškega spola, ki ne zajtrkujejo in se ne ukvarjajo z redno telesno aktivnostjo.
Background. Smoking is initiated mostly by adolescents and young adults. In Slovenia, we have limited data about this. The purpose of this paper is to show data on age at smoking initiation and ...differences in age at smoking initiation by gender, age groups, education, social class and geographical region among inhabitants of Slovenia.
Methods. We used data from the cross-sectional survey ‘Health-related behaviour 2012’ in Slovenian population aged from 25 to 74 years.
Results. 4591 ever smokers, aged 25-74, that gave information about the age at smoking initiation were included in the analysis. At the age of 25 or less, smoking was initiated by 96.7% of Slovene ever smokers, at the age of 18 or less by 71.0%. The average age at smoking initiation was 17.7 years. Male ever smokers initiated smoking at an earlier age compared to female ones. Age at smoking initiation was decreasing in both male and female ever smokers, but was more pronounced in females. In male ever smokers, there were no differences in average smoking initiation age by education, self-reported social class and geographical regions, while in female ever smokers, there were significant differences in terms of education and geographical regions.
Conclusion. The initiation of smoking predominantly occurs in adolescents and young adults. Age at smoking initiation has decreased in recent decades. Our study confirms the importance of early and sustained smoking prevention programmes in youth and the importance of national comprehensive tobacco control programme with effective tobacco control measures to ban tobacco products marketing.
Uvod. Podatki iz tujine kažejo, da začnejo kaditi praviloma mladostniki in mladi odrasli. Za Slovenijo imamo o tem malo podatkov. Namen prispevka je prikaz podatkov o starosti ob začetku kajenja in razlik v začetku kajenja glede na spol, starostne skupine, izobrazbo, družbeni sloj in geografsko regijo med prebivalci v Sloveniji.
Metode. Uporabili smo podatke iz presečne pregledne raziskave »Z zdravjem povezan vedenjski slog 2012« med prebivalci Slovenije, starimi od 25 do 74 let.
Rezultati. V analizo je bilo vključenih 4591 posameznikov, starih 25-74 let, ki so kadarkoli v življenju kadili, in so podali podatke o starosti ob začetku kajenja. V starosti 25 let ali manj je prvič kadilo 96,7% prebivalcev, ki so kadarkoli v življenju kadili, v starosti 18 let ali manj pa 71,0 %. Povprečna starost ob prvem kajenju je bila 17,7 leta. Moški, ki so kadili kadarkoli v življenju, so prvič kadili pri nižji povprečni starosti kot ženske. Povprečna starost ob začetku kajenja se je zniževala pri obeh spolih, a izraziteje med ženskami. V povprečni starosti ob začetku kajenja pri moških, ki so kadili kadarkoli v življenju, ni razlik glede na izobrazbo, samoporočani družbeni sloj in geografsko regijo, medtem ko so pri ženskah prisotne značilne razlike glede na izobrazbo in geografsko regijo. Ženske z najvišjo stopnjo izobrazbe, ki so kadile kadarkoli v življenju, in tiste iz vzhodne geografske regije so prvič kadile pri nižji starosti.
Zaključek. Kaditi začnejo in nadaljujejo do rednega kajenja večinoma mladostniki in mladi odrasli. Starost ob začetku kajenja se je v zadnjih desetletjih zniževala. Podatki iz raziskave potrjujejo pomembnost zgodnjih in dolgotrajnih programov preprečevanja kajenja med mladimi ter nacionalnega celovitega programa ukrepov nadzora nad tobakom za zaustavitev marketinga tobačnih izdelkov.
Namen: Za razvoj učinkovitih programov za preprečevanje kajenja med mladostniki je potrebna raziskava, ki bi opredelila zanesljive dejavnike začetka kajenja, značilne za posamezno državo. Cilj te ...študije je bil oceniti kognitivne in socialno-demografske dejavnike, povezane z začetkom kajenja med romunskimi mladostniki, in sicer na podlagi presečnih in vzporedno primerljivih podatkov.
Aim. The objective of the study was to examine self-esteem, anxiety level and coping strategies among secondary school students in relation to their involvement in organized sports.
Methods. The ...sample included 280 Slovenian male and female secondary school students aged between 15 and 19 years. The participants completed The Adolescent Coping Scale, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the PSDQ Selfesteem Scale.
Results. Participants engaged in organized sports exhibited higher self-esteem scores and lower anxiety scores in comparison to non-sport participants. Differences between the two groups have also been identified with respect to the use of certain coping strategies. Sport participants reported more productive coping than non-sport participants, which represents an active and problem-focused approach to dealing with everyday problems. Gender differences in the referred variables have also been studied, with female athletes exhibiting higher levels of anxiety than male athletes. Female participants were also found to use more non-productive coping than males, focused mainly on reducing emotional effects of stress.
Conclusions. Organized youth sports have an important role in improving and maintaining a favorable sense of self-worth, reducing anxiety, and promoting productive coping strategies in adolescents when dealing with everyday problems.
Cilj. Namen raziskave je bil preučiti raven samospoštovanja in anksioznosti ter uporabo različnih strategij spoprijemanja s stresom pri srednješolskih mladostnikih v povezavi z vključenostjo v redno in organizirano športno vadbo.
Metode. Vzorec je obsegal 280 slovenskih srednješolcev in srednješolk od 15. do 19. leta. Udeleženci so izpolnili vprašalnik spoprijemanja s težavami za mladostnike, lestvico anksioznosti in lestvico samospoštovanja.
Rezultati. Pri mladostnikih, ki se organizirano ukvarjajo s športom, smo ugotovili višje vrednosti na lestvici samospoštovanja in nižjo stopnjo anksioznosti v primerjavi z njihovimi športno neaktivnimi vrstniki. Razlike med skupinama so se pokazale tudi v uporabi nekaterih spoprijemalnih strategij: športno aktivni mladostniki so se v splošnem posluževali več na problem usmerjenih strategij spoprijemanja v primerjavi z nešportniki, kar kaže na bolj aktiven in konstruktiven pristop k reševanju vsakodnevnih težav. Razlike po spolu so pokazale, da športnice izražajo več anksioznega doživljanja kot športniki. Na področju soočanja s stresom smo ugotovili razlike v nekaterih spoprijemalnih strategijah tako v skupini športnikov kot v skupini nešportnikov: dekleta so v primerjavi s fanti izražala več nekonstruktivnega spoprijemanja, usmerjenega predvsem v blaženje učinkov čustvene napetosti v stresnih situacijah.
Zaključek. Predpostavimo lahko, da ima organizirana športna aktivnost pomembno vlogo pri razvijanju in ohranjanju ugodnega občutka lastne vrednosti, zmanjševanju negativnih učinkov stresa ter spodbujanju uporabe aktivnih in konstruktivnih strategij spoprijemanja s težavami v mladostništvu.
Background. Studies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory results. The aim of our study was to ...examine the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among adolescents in Slovenia.
Methods. Subjects consisted of 822 school children aged from 14 to 16 years, living in urban area of Ljubljana and Maribor. The data was collected using the EURO URHIS 2 survey. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the correlation between the independent variables of physical activity; time spent watching television and using the computer, and each of the five substance use dependent variables.
Results. Frequency of daily smoking was significantly associated with leisure time physical activity, while alcohol and cannabis use were not. Watching TV ≥ 2 hours per day was associated with heavy episodic drinking in the past month, no associations were found for smoking and cannabis use. Using the computer ≥ 2 hours per day was positively associated with daily smoking, drinking alcohol in the past month, heavy episodic drinking in the past month and ever being intoxicated, while cannabis use was not.
Conclusions. These findings suggest that leisure time physical activity is associated with daily cigarette smoking, and leisure time sedentary behaviour is associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. The results of our study show the need for the formation of suitable preventive measures concerning reduced sitting time as well as leisure time physical activity targeted to adolescents.
Izhodišča. Podatki iz do sedaj znanih študij, ki opisujejo povezavo med telesno aktivnostjo v prostem času, oblikami sedečega vedenja ter uživanjem psihoaktivnih snovi med mladostniki, so si nasprotujoči. Namen študije je bil preučiti povezanost med samoocenjeno telesno aktivnostjo in oblikami sedečega vedenja (uporaba računalnika, gledanje televizije) v prostem času ter uporabo alkohola, tobaka in marihuane med mladostniki v Sloveniji.
Metode. Podatki so bili zbrani v okviru presečne pregledne raziskave o zdravju mladostnikov EUROURHIS 2. Sodelovalo je 822 srednješolcev, ki živijo v urbanem okolju Ljubljane in Maribora, starih od 14 do 16 let. Z logistično regresijo smo ocenili korelacijo med neodvisnimi spremenljivkami telesne aktivnosti in časa, porabljenega za gledanje televizije in uporabo računalnika, ter vsako od petih odvisnih spremenljivk uživanja psihoaktivnih snovi.
Rezultati. Telesna aktivnost v prostem času je statistično pomembno povezana s pogostostjo dnevnega kajenja, medtem ko povezave z uživanjem alkohola in uporabo marihuane nismo dokazali. Gledanje televizije dve uri ali več na običajen šolski dan je statistično pomembno povezano z občasnim čezmernim pitjem v zadnjem mesecu, povezava s kajenjem tobaka in marihuane ni ugotovljena. Uporaba računalnika dve uri ali več na običajen šolski dan je statistično pomembno povezana z dnevnim kajenjem tobaka, uživanjem alkohola v zadnjem mesecu, občasnim čezmernim pitjem v zadnjem mesecu in opitostjo vsaj enkrat v življenju, povezave z uporabo marihuane nismo dokazali.
Zaključek. Med mladostniki je telesna aktivnost v prostem času povezana z dnevnim kajenjem tobaka, oblike sedečega vedenja pa z uživanjem alkohola in kajenjem tobaka. Rezultati raziskave kažejo na potrebo po pripravi ustreznega preventivnega programa, s katerim bi sočasno spodbujali telesno aktivnost in omejevali oblike sedečega vedenja.
Background. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune chronic disease where hyperglycemia, increased risk of oxidative stress, advanced glycation end-products and other genetic and environmental factors ...lead to T1D complications. Shorter telomeres are associated with hyperglycemic levels and lower serum vitamin D levels.
Methods. Average telomere length (ATL) in whole blood DNA samples was assessed with qPCR method in 53 Slovenian T1D children/adolescents (median age 8.7 years, 1:1.3 male/female ratio). Body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), glycated haemoglobin and serum level of vitamin D metabolite (25-(OH)-D3) and the age at the onset of T1D were collected from the available medical documentation.
Results. Results indicate shorter ATL in subjects with higher BMI-SDS when compared to those with longer ATL (0.455 ± 0.438, -0.63 ± 0.295; p=0.049). Subjects with higher BMI-SDS had lower serum vitamin D levels when compared to those with lower BMI-SDS (40.66 ± 3.07 vs. 52.86 ± 4.85 nmol/L; p=0.045). Vitamin D serum levels did not significantly differ between subjects with longer/shorter ATL.
Conclusion. T1D children/adolescents with shorter ATL tend to have higher BMI-SDS. Lower serum vitamin D levels were associated with higher BMI-SDS, while associations between vitamin D serum levels, age at the onset of T1D, glycated haemoglobin and ATL were not observed. Additional studies with more participants are required to clarify the role of the telomere dynamics in T1D aetiology and development of complications.
Izhodišče. Sladkorna bolezen tipa 1 (SBT1) je kronična avtoimunska bolezen, pri kateri hiperglikemija ter zvišana raven oksidativnega stresa in končnih produktov glikacije skupaj z genetskimi in okoljskimi dejavniki privedeta do nastanka diabetičnih zapletov. Krajše dolžine telomerov so povezane s hiperglikemičnimi epizodami in nižjimi serumskimi vrednostmi vitamina D.
Metode. Z metodo qPCR smo iz vzorcev DNK periferne krvi določili povprečne dolžine telomerov 53 slovenskim bolnikom s SBT1 (povprečna starost 8,7 leta, razmerje med dečki in deklicami 1:1,3). Indeks standardnega odklona indeksa telesne teže (BMI-SDS), vrednosti serumskega metabolita vitamina D - 25-hidroksikalcifediola (25-(OH)-D3), glikiran hemoglobin in starost preiskovancev ob izbruhu bolezni smo pridobili iz razpoložljive medicinske dokumentacije.
Rezultati. Rezultati nakazujejo krajše dolžine telomerov pri bolnikih z višjimi vrednostmi BMI-SDS (0,455 ± 0,438, -0,63± 0,295; p=0,049). Preiskovanci z višjimi vrednostmi BMI-SDS so imeli nižje vrednosti 25-(OH)-D3 kot preiskovanci z nižjimi vrednostmi BMI-SDS (40,66 ± 3,07 proti 52,86 ± 4,85 nmol/L; p=0,045). Vrednosti 25-(OH)-D3 niso statistično značilno različne pri preiskovancih z višjimi oziroma nižjimi povprečnimi dolžinami telomerov.
Zaključki. Otroci in mladostniki s SBT1 s krajšimi dolžinami telomerov imajo nekoliko višje vrednosti BMI-SDS. Nižje vrednosti 25-(OH)-D3 so povezane z višjim BMI-SDS. Povezav med serumskimi vrednostmi 25-(OH)-D3, starostjo bolnikov ob izbruhu bolezni, glikiranim hemoglobinom in povprečnimi dolžinami telomerov nismo zaznali. Za razjasnitev vloge telomerov v etiologiji, patogenezi in nastanku zapletov SBT1 bodo potrebne nadaljnje raziskave z večjim številom preiskovancev.