The Rising Burden of Childhood Obesity: Prevention Should Start in Primary School

Background: The increasing rates of childhood obesity (CO) are an ongoing problem. We focused on the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity, and sleep habits of preschool children in order to investigate the relationship between lifestyle habits and health outcomes through parental perception. Methods: In the context of "EpPOI: Education to prevent CO", we investigated physical activity (PA) and sleep hygiene using an online survey for caregivers. Parents also completed the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (Kid-Med) questionnaire. Results: A total of 5.3% of the interviewees achieved a score indicating an adequate adherence to the MD. Additionally, 50.5% of children ate sweets every day, and 80% skipped breakfast. We also found that the parents' perceptions of their children's PA were a predictor of MD adherence, and PA was also positively correlated with fruit consumption [p < 0.034], vegetable consumption [p < 0.015], and fish consumption [p < 0.005]. Conclusions: Parents seem to be oriented towards a healthy lifestyle, but the children's level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet is poor. CO prevention requires a synergic effort that includes an adherence to healthy eating patterns such as the MD and a greater awareness of parents on the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle at an early age.