The tendency that has emerged in recent years towards an increase in the number of overweight children, as well as an increase in the incidence of children associated with obesity and overweight, actualizes the timely indication of deviations in the physical development of children in order to prevent health disorders. The article provides a comparative analysis of methods for assessing the physical development of children using somatometric indicators: methods of sigma deviations (deviation from standard arithmetic mean values by the value of sigma deviation), estimates on regression scales that take into account the correlation between body weight and body length and age (deviations from the proper values from M –1 to M + 2σR), body mass index estimates by calculating the Quetelet index, using the SDS-standard deviation score, Z-score (WHO 2007) and bioimpedance analysis. The generalized analysis in the age group 12–17 revealed the highest percentage of overweight children when analyzed using bioimpedansometry (20.9 %) and when assessing BMI according to the WHO method of 21.2 % regardless of gender and significantly lower indicators when assessing with using regression scales and sigma deviations (9.6 % among boys and 18.7 % — among girls when assessed using regression scales and 15.3 %, and 11.2 % — when assessed by the method of sigma deviations). The broad capabilities of bioimpedance analysis of body composition make it possible to diagnose the presence of overweight and obesity at the individual level. Comparable results obtained in bioimpedance analysis and in assessing body mass index using the method (WHO, 2007), allow us to consider this method in population studies of indication of overweight and obesity as a rather informative method.

The article presents the results of a survey of parents of junior high school students and parental control over the organization of meals. In the course of the sociological research the questions of satisfaction with the organization of hot breakfasts and lunches for pupils of classes 1–4 in connection with the transition to the 100 % coverage with healthy, hot free meals in general educational institutions were studied. Parents of children in grades 1–4 from 60 regions of the Russian Federation participated in the survey. Information was obtained and analyzed on the satisfaction of schoolchildren with organized meals according to the following criteria — satisfaction with the variety of meals, portion size, the number of meals offered, and their taste. The results of parental control are presented, which made it possible to identify the main directions of improving the organization of children’s meals — increasing the duration of breaks, monitoring children’s compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, organizing meals for children who require an individual approach to the organization of food for health reasons.

Introduction. The paper presents the results of experimental studies focused on assessing the anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extract. The study was conducted on an experimental model of "zinc" diabetes in white male Wistar rats and under conditions of acute hyperlipidemia caused by the Tween-80 detergent. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of using Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extracts in the diet as a natural sweetener for the organizing nutrition of overweight and diabetic people, including educational settings for children, on the model of induced diabetes mellitus and acute hyperlipidemia in laboratory animals. Materials and Methods. In order to solve the research problem, the authors utilized the following techniques: assessing the biochemical parameters of blood serum, determining the level of glucose in the blood, lipid formula and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Theoretical methods involved reviewing and analyzing Russian and international academic articles. Results. The findings of this study suggest that it is possible to use Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extracts as a natural sugar substitute in the diet of people with overweight and diabetes mellitus, as well as for prophylaxis in healthy people, including meals for children in educational settings. Conclusions. The article concludes that an immunomodulatory effect and the absence of side effects of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extract confirm its usage in the daily diet of the population.

Introduction. This article presents the results of a large-scale research on monitoring the nutrition of students in educational institutions. Nutrition is one of the leading factors determining the health and harmony in the processes of growth and development of the child population. One of the most common consequences of unhealthy eating behavior is overweight and obesity. The study and early detection of risk factors is necessary for the prevention of overweight and obesity, which are an acute problem of modern science and education. The purpose of the study is to assess risk factors for overweight and obesity in schoolchildren in order to develop effective programs for the prevention of childhood obesity and nutritional diseases. Materials and Methods. The research data were collected and processed via the following methods: a questionnaire, analytical and statistical methods using parametric and non-parametric methods of statistics and t-test (in the case of normal distribution of data) and Fisher (U). Differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. The STATISTICA-10.0 package and Microsoft Excel were used. Results. As part of the global monitoring of schoolchildren’s nutrition (the survey covered 43.9 thousand schoolchildren from 49 regions of the Russian Federation), the following key risk factors for nutrition-related health disorders in schoolchildren were identified: a violation of the structure of nutrition, unhealthy eating behavior and eating habits, violations in the organization of nutrition in educational institutions and at home. Statistically significant correlation coefficients were found between indicators of normal body weight and family income, between overweight and unhealthy eating habits, and eating behavior, the prevalence of diseases of the digestive system. Forecast indicators of a decrease in the prevalence of obesity with a decrease in the proportion of children with unhealthy eating habits have been established. Conclusions. The results of the study characterize the key risk factors for the development of overweight and obesity in children associated with nutrition. In the future, the results obtained can be used to predict the effectiveness of implemented preventive measures at the level of individual educational institutions and territories of the Russian Federation.

No abstract