More than 240 schools join the PASOS study for children’s health
This pioneering initiative led by the Gasol Foundation in coordination with the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, whose main collaborator is the Probitas Foundation, aims to assess the level of physical activity of children in Spain.
- The PASOS study will generate scientific evidence about the physical activity and lifestyles in Spain to promote initiatives that help reduce the figures of childhood overweight and obesity – in Spain, 40% of children ages 6 to 9 suffer from obesity or overweight.
- In total, the study evaluates 4,508 children and adolescents between 8 and 16 years of age from 242 primary and secondary schools that have been selected at random.
- The Probitas Foundation, which through the pioneering RAI (Reinforcement of Infant Feeding) program ensures a complete diet and promotes healthy habits for minors and young people at social risk, joins this initiative as a principal collaborator, and, in addition, participates as one of the 14 research groups responsible for field work in schools.
“Studying the level of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle of children and adolescents in our country is necessary to promote policies and educational interventions that contribute to preventing childhood obesity and the diseases that this entails in the long term”, explains Pau Gasol, President of the Gasol Foundation. According to the Guide on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sleep for children under 5 years, published by the World Health Organization last April, “physical inactivity has been identified as one of the main risk factors in global morality and contributes to the increase in obesity.”
This study, promoted by the Gasol Foundation in collaboration with the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute with the Probitas Foundation as their main collaborator, and with Santander Bank and Barça Foundation as healthy allies. This study also has the institutional support of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare through AESAN (Spanish Agency, Food Safety and Nutrition, the High Commissioner against Child Poverty, the Higher Sports Council, the General College of Professional Associations of Physical Education and Sports and the Ministries of Education and/or Health of the 17 Autonomous Communities.
Data Collection
To facilitate travel to schools where data collections performed, Gasol Foundation professionals have a Kia Sorento that has been loaned by the official dealer of KIA in Barcelona, AR Motors.
Methodology
Additionally, the PASOS Study will calibrate the PAU-7S questionnaire, which, through 7 questions, evaluates the physical activity of the children and if they reach the 60 minutes a day of moderate or vigorous physical activity recommended by the WHO. To perform the calibration of this questionnaire, 10% of the children participating in the PASOS Study will wear an accelerometer on their wrist for 9 days, a scientific device similar to a watch that allows knowing the intensity of the exercise, the pattern of physical activity, and the quality of sleep and rest.
Childhood Obesity Figures
According to the WHO, 340 million children and adolescents between ages 5 and 19 suffer from overweight or obesity around the world. Specifically in Spain, obesity affects 18.1% of children ages 6 to 9 years, to which we must add 23.2% who are overweight, according to the ALADINO Study (2015).
- More information about the PASOS Study: www.gasolfoundation.org/es/estudio-pasos
- Watch the video of PASOS Study HERE.