Association of Sports Participation and Diet with Motor Competence in Austrian Middle School Students.

Clemens Drenowatz,Klaus Greier

doi:10.3390/nu10121837

Abstract

Physical activity and diet are important contributors to overall health and development in adolescents. There remains, however, limited research on the combined association of sports participation and dietary pattern on motor competence, which is crucial for an active lifestyle during and beyond adolescence. The present study, therefore, examined the association between sports participation, dietary pattern, and motor competence in 165 middle school students (55% male) between 11 and 14 years of age. Body weight and height were measured, and motor competence was determined via the German motor test during regular Physical Education (PE). Further, participants completed a food frequency questionnaire and reported their engagement in club sports. Of the total sample 20% were overweight/obese and 49% reported participation in club sports, with no differences between boys and girls. Interaction effects of sports participation and dietary pattern on motor competence were limited, but sports participation and healthy diet were independently associated with higher motor performance. Healthy dietary choices, along with participation in club sports, therefore, should be promoted in adolescents in order to facilitate motor development. As adolescence is a crucial time for the establishment of lifelong behaviors, such efforts could facilitate a healthy lifestyle throughout adulthood.

Highlights

Low levels of physical activity (PA) and poor dietary choices are considered key health risk factors in youth [1]
To the authors’ knowledge, this was the first study that examined the combined association of dietary pattern and club sports participation with motor competence in Austrian adolescents
While there were no significant associations between dietary patterns and club sports participation, the present study showed independent associations of dietary pattern, as well as club sports participation with motor competence in middle school students

Summary

Introduction

Low levels of physical activity (PA) and poor dietary choices are considered key health risk factors in youth [1]. Adolescence provides a crucial window of opportunity for sustainable health promotion, including sufficient PA and healthy dietary choices [3]. Sedentary choices during leisure time, along with prolonged sitting times during school time are common in youth [6,7,8], and many children and adolescents do not meet current dietary recommendations [9,10]. Low PA levels most likely contributed to a decline in physical fitness and motor competence in children and adolescents [11,12], which is a crucial contributor to a sustainable active lifestyle, as well as overall health and well-being [13,14]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion