Quality of Life Profile, Overweight-Obesity and Sedentary Behavior in Elementary and High School Children of Guanacaste

The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life profile, overweight-obesity and sedentary behavior in a group of elementary and high school children of Guanacaste. 635 students participated in the study. The participants completed a protocol by which they were anthropometrically evaluated, and also filled up a questionnaire related to sedentary behavior and quality of life. In general, the findings reflected a prevalence of overweight and obesity of 13, 9%. The most important sedentary activities were, in descending order, the small screen (watching TV, video games, computer), and certain social and cultural activities. The self-reported quality of life index was within acceptable limits but not exceeding 80 points on a scale of 1-100. There was no significant relationship between the rate of the overall quality of life, overweight, obesity and some sedentary behaviors, although some anthropometric parameters like percentage of body fat and body weight showed significant correlation with sedentary behavior and specific aspects belonging to quality of life. The study provides valuable information to health authorities, directors of educational institutions and parents about key issues related to child development.

Children's Library system, its projection in the Costa Rican Education

To focus the projection that libraries have had children in Costa Rican education, it is necessary to note that Costa Rica is one of the countries of Latin America, which has developed valuable experience of having specialized libraries in the care of preschool and school children , becoming an important resource in supporting educational and cultural level. This, then places it as a model country in this field in Latin America, on the initiative and from the heart of the capital, starting in 1971 with the opening of the Children's Library Carmen Lyra. System currently operates six libraries of this type, installed in different districts of the Central Canton of San Jose.

LAGUNA HULE: EXPERIENCIA DE UN MODELO ECOTURISTICO COMUNITARIO

El principal atractivo turístico de Costa Rica lo constituyen sus recursos naturales; de ahí que en los últimos años se ha presentado el acelerado desarrollo de una serie de proyectos llamados “ecoturísticos”, ejecutados por grandes consorcios, en la mayoría de los casos con el aporte de capital extranjero. El proyecto que se describe en el presente artículo lo ejecutan las comunidades de Cariblanco, Ujarrás y Los Angeles, ubicadas en las zonas aledañas al Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Bosque Alegre. Esta experiencia representa un modelo de desarrollo turístico, que se puede llevar a cabo en otras poblaciones rurales, que cuenten COfl los componentes necesarios para la protección y la conservación de sus recursos naturales, asimismo posibilita la utilización de estos desde una perspectiva de sostenibilidad. El trabajo comunitario se realizó con niños de edad escolar, jóvenes, docentes, líderes comunales y amas de casa. Estos grupos mcta constituyen los verdaderos núcleos de apoyo por medio de los cuales se realizan los diversos subproyectos que se ejecutan en el ámbito del turismo ecológico en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Bosque Alegre. Abstract:The main touristic altractive of Costa Rica is its natural resources. For this reason, during the last years there are an accelerate development of ecotouristic project by transnational. The project thai is described in ihis article is carrying out by the Cariblanco, Ujarras and Los Angeles Communities located next to the Wildlife National Refugee of Bosque Alegre. This experiene is a model of tourism development thai can be carrying out in others rural communities thai has the difference component of conservation and preservation of the natural resources. For other hand, it gives the opportunity Lo use and management the natural resources basing in the sustainable approach. The community work was realized with school children, young people, teachers, community leader and housekeepers. Those target groups are (he real people thai support the different activities of the projects that are carry out in to the Wildlife National Refugee of Bosque Alegre.