Introduction: Healthy lifestyle presents healthy behaviours affected by social norms, social networking as well as a person’s working and living environment. Healthy and balanced nutrition, physical activity, reliefing stress and avoiding unhealthy habits such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs develop healthy life style of individual. Zgornjesavska dolina valley comprises of three municipalities: Jesenice, Žirovnica and Kranjska Gora. On the one hand we have urban environment, industry, unemployment, lower standard of living, and on the other there is tourism, peace, higher standard of living, which all consequently influence the development of the chosen health risk factors. Purpose: The purpose of research was to analysing the status of the whole population of eighth-graders in selected risk factors of unhealthy life style and to identify the differences based on the environment. Methods : We conducted a cross- sectional study and used the descriptive method. The measuring instrument was a questionnaire. The study included the whole population of eighth-graders from primary schools in the municipalities of Jesenice, Žirovnica and Kranjska Gora. We used the quantitative approach of collecting and processing data. Analyses were conducted with t-test for two independent samples, ANOVA test, chi-squared test and Pearson coefficient of correlation. Results: The response rate was 68.3 % (n = 179). By analysing data acquired from the questionnaire it was established that the percentage of children with body mass index in the zone normal weight is higher in rural environment (82.5 %) than in urban (67.68 %), but at 5 % level of risk there is no statistically significant association between body mass index in zone overweight or obese and the environment the children come from. The level of the mother’s education is very important in developing a healthy lifestyle. Children whose mothers have higher education consume more fruit and vegetables, less salty snacks and are more physically active. Statistically significant differences were shown in drinking sweet beverages; the eighth-graders from urban environment on average consume more, both carbonated and non-carbonated ones. Questions about having breakfast, school snack, lunch, sweets did not show any statistically significant differences based on the children’s environment. Also no statistically significant differences were shown in connection to their statements about health, their opinions on health and spending their free time. There were some statistically significant differences when questioned about intensive physical activity, where children from urban environment were more intensively physically active on a daily (measured in hours),weekly and monthly basis, and they spent much more time on playgrounds as children from rural environment. School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme project benefits the pupils as statistically it significantly influences the popularity of eating fruit and vegetables. Discussion and conclusion: Despite the fact that the socio-economic standard is higher in the rural areas and there is a statistically significant association between socio-economic standard and environment, the children from urban areas in chosen health risk factors are in no more danger than the children from rural areas. The results of the research are an important contribution to the development of health promotion programs and health education at the local level.
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