Eating habits, sedentary behaviours and overweight and obesity among adolescents in Barcelona (Spain)

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day in a balanced diet. Skipping breakfast has been associated with overweight. This study aimed to describe overweight and obesity among secondary school students in Barcelona and to analyse their association with eating habits and sedentary behaviours. Material and methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 2008 on a representative sample of secondary school students in Barcelona (Spain). Overweight and obesity were defined using body mass index (BMI), which was calculated from objective measurements. The prevalences of overweight and obesity were determined, and their association with eating habits, sedentary behaviours, and physical activity was analysed using logistic regression models. Results A total of 3089 students were analysed (52% girls). The prevalence of overweight was 26.1% in boys (6.2% obese) and 20.6% in girls (3.7% obese). In both sexes, overweight was associated with being younger, having breakfast less often, being on a diet, and with a lower frequency of unhealthy food intake. Being on a diet and a lower unhealthy food intake were related to obesity in both sexes. Among boys, obesity was also associated with sedentary behaviours. Conclusions The results show that overweight and obesity are a serious public health problem and confirm the importance of breakfast to prevent overweight. Moreover, these results allow us to expand our knowledge on the factors associated with overweight and obesity in order to improve current school preventive programs.