Abstract
Background: Several studies have shown that following a healthy diet and practicing regular physical activity (PA) are related with multiple health benefits. However, the cognitive and academic implications of these behaviors within adolescents requires further study. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a simple of 1059 adolescents from Spain. The main instruments employed were the Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Test (KIDMED), the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and the Motivation and Learning Strategies Short Form (MSLQ-SF). Results: Practicing PA for more than three hours per week was related to better dietary habits (p < 0.001) such as increased consumption of vegetables (0.75 ± 0.43 vs. 0.62 ± 0.48), fish (0.67 ± 0.47 vs. 0.58 ± 0.49), cereals (0.85 ± 0.35 vs. 0.77 ± 0.41) and nuts (0.44 ± 0.49 vs. 0.35 ± 0.47). High adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) was positively related to elaboration strategies (r = 0.116), organizational strategies (r = 0.109), critical thinking (r = 0.116), self-regulation (r = 0.159), time and study habits (r = 0.160), self-regulation of effort (r = 0.118), and intrinsically orientated goals (r = 0.090) (p < 0.01 for all variables). Practicing PA every week was also related to improvements in several of the measured variables and in addition was related to lower levels of anxiety within the academic environment (r = −0.070; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Given the benefits of eating habits and the practice of PA in the cognitive processes involved in adolescent learning, intervention programs within the educational context are recommended to improve healthy habits.
Highlights
In recent decades, several studies have highlighted the importance of improving aspects of the teaching-learning process at different educational stages in order to encourage better learning outcomes in students [1,2]
Intrinsic motivation of students has been identified as an important factor in maintaining student interest in learning materials provided within the classroom, and improving capacity for self-regulation of academic behaviours [2,3,4]
The main conclusions from the present research highlight the importance of better dietary patterns and high adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD), through a higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, cereals and nuts
Summary
Several studies have highlighted the importance of improving aspects of the teaching-learning process at different educational stages in order to encourage better learning outcomes in students [1,2]. Previous research (e.g., Bhushan et al [8] and Esposito et al [9]) identify a number of physical and cognitive benefits of following healthy habits; these include improving body composition, emotional well-being and self-concept, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, stress, and anxiety [10,11,12]. The Mediterranean diet (MD) constitutes a balanced and healthy dietary model, which has been linked to the benefits described [11,13]. It is characterized by a high consumption of vegetables, legumes, cereals, fish, fruits, and nuts, as well as a moderate consumption of eggs, milk, and meat [14].
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