Physical activity, Mediterranean diet, maximal oxygen uptake and motivational climate towards sports in schoolchildren from the province of Granada: a structural equation model

Abstract

the school stage represents a period of risk in the development of habits such as sedentary digital leisure, which favours future pathologies such as obesity. The practice of Physical Activity and the level of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) allows its prevention, being essential to promote motivational climates in sport that support a healthy lifestyle. the present study was carried out in a sample of 692 schoolchildren from the province of Granada. This research aims to develop a structural equation model that allows to analyse the relationships between motivational climate, healthy habits and maximal oxygen uptake. The main instruments used were the PMCSQ-2, KIDMED, PAQ-C and CERV. the results show a direct relationship between the practice of PA, Task Climate and Ego Climate. PA was positively correlated with the use of videogames and maximum oxygen uptake. The problematic use of video games was positively associated with Ego Climate and negatively related to the level of adherence to the MD. Finally, Ego Climate was positively related to the level of adherence to MD. the practice of PA oriented to Task Climate promotes a lifestyle more active, which improves the maximal oxygen uptake, reduces the sedentary digital leisure and is associated to a better dietary pattern. The ego-oriented goals also is associated with the quality of the diet, revealing the need to promote a physical-sports practice that favours intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.