BASIC 2015

Physical activity and obesity statistics in Albanian children (6-15 yrs) living in Balkan region 2013-2015  

Juel Jarani (1), Andi Spahi(1), Florian Muca(3; 4), Dean Qefalia(4), Jakob Tarp(2), Anders Groentved(2), 

Agron Kasa(1), Leornard Shaka, Keida Ushtelenca (1)

                1- Sports University of Tirana 2- University of Southern Denmark 3- Tirana International School 4- Assa organization

The report on the level of physical activity and obesity in Albanian children (18,500 children) living in the Balkans (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro) for the period 2013- 2015 is based on the results of the “BASIC” project applied in Sports University of Tirana (SUT) and funded by the budget “on Scientific Research Financing” accorded by the Ministry of Education and Sports. The project working group consists of the academic staff of the SUT, members of non-profit associations and in collaboration with two professors from the University of Southern Denmark. It has been an extensively cooperation with DAR of Albanian cities, the respective municipalities in Kosovo and Macedonia and the Ministry of Education and Sport of Montenegro. 

This report is developed for the first time in the Region as well as in Albania, including mapping of participation in Physical Activity, spread of Obesity and Overweight, as well as participation in Sport regarding children in primary and secondary school (6- 15 years old). In the framework of this project is also established a computer program (web based) where parents, teachers and other individuals can identify the status of their children, only with the information of age of the child and the parameters (weight, height, BMI and waist circumference). Children already enabled the creation of the profile of their current situation with regard to the Albanian children in general.

It is created and comparative data city-village, boy-girl, between countries, geographical location, primary-secondary, between age groups (division 0.5 years) from 6-15 years old. The innovation of this project is the creation of references to the Albanian children overweighed and with obesity, completing already and blank map that exists for years in comparison with other European countries that have continuously annual reports.