Abstract
The Children’s Health Center in Warsaw was carried out in 2007-2010 the research project „Development of standards in blood pressure of children and youth in the Poland OLAF” confirmed that overweight and obesity affects about 22% of boys and 18% of girls in schools basic; in secondary schools this proportion is slightly lower – 15% and 12%. The aim of this study was to assess the food preferences, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children of 1-3 classes of primary school in the South Poland. The study was conducted in the Myslenice District and Kraków in 2009-2012 year. These included primary school pupils aged 7-9 years and their parents. Group size was 1,140 children. Questionnaire for children was aimed at getting to know the degree of liking some food products. Anthropometric measurements were as: measurement of weight, height, % body fat, waist and hips. The analysis used ANOVA rank Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and the level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Boys with underweight and normal significantly more liked Pepsi drinks than girls. Among the vegetables girls having a BMI in the normal range more preferred lettuce, cauliflower and radish, than boys. Of the sweets girls with overweight and obesity significantly less liked buns, compared to girls with underweight and normal. Boys regardless of BMI significantly more liked pizza compared to girls. Gender and child nutritional status will affect the choice of food products. It is necessary to correct nutritional education of children and their parents to the future of there eating behavior were normal.