LIFESTYLES AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED TO NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

the objective of this work was to know the lifestyles of adolescent of the South of Spain related to nutrition and physical activity and the risk and protection factors associated. a cross-sectional correlational study was carried out with 204 adolescents enrolled at high schools. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis using regression models were performed (=0.05). 63.7% had breakfast every day during the week (i.e. from Monday to Friday). They consumed more than six times a week: milk or dairy (56.3%), cereals (44.1%), fruits (40.7%), vegetables (28.5%), and soft-drinks (24.5%). They did physical activity, at least 60 minutes, an average of 4.34 days a week, the body mass index stood at normal weight (19.85). By means of linear multivariate models we tested the influences of age, gender, and socio-economic status on body max index, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity frequency of adolescents. knowing the inequalities in nutrition and physical activity area of adolescents, as well as the risk factors or health determinants can help to stablish specific different strategies and public health policies, targeted to these determinants of health, which can be developed at normative level and by means of interventions of nutritional health and physical activity promotion.