Abstract
A holistic approach to understanding the relationship between diet, lifestyle and obesity is a better approach than studying single factors. This study presents the clustering of dietary and lifestyle behaviours to determine the association of these dietary-lifestyle patterns (DLPs) with adiposity, nutrition knowledge, gender and sociodemographic factors in teenagers. The research was designed as a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 1549 Polish students aged 11–13 years. DLPs were identified with cluster analysis. Logistic regression modelling with adjustment for confounders was applied. Three dietary-lifestyle patterns were identified: Prudent-Active (29.3% of the sample), Fast-food-Sedentary (13.8%) and notPrudent-notFast-food-lowActive (56.9%). Adherence to Prudent-Active pattern (reference: notPrudent-notFast-food-lowActive) was 29% or 49% lower in 12-year-old or 13-year-old teenagers than in 11-year-old teenagers, respectively, and higher by 57% or 2.4 times in the middle or the upper tertile than the bottom tertile of the nutrition knowledge score. To the contrary, adherence to Fast-food-Sedentary (reference: notPrudent-notFast-food-lowActive) was lower by 41% or 58% in the middle or the upper tertile than the bottom tertile of the nutrition knowledge score, respectively. In Prudent-Active, the chance of central obesity (waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5) was lower by 47% and overweight/obesity was lower by 38% or 33% (depending on which standard was used: International Obesity Task Force, 2012: BMI (body mass index)-for-age ≥ 25 kg/m2 or Polish standards, 2010: BMI-for-age ≥ 85th percentile) when compared with the notPrudent-notFast-food-lowActive pattern. In Fast-food-Sedentary, the chance of central obesity was 2.22 times higher than the Prudent-Active pattern. The study identified a set of characteristics that decreased the risk of general and central adiposity in teenagers, which includes health-promoting behaviours related to food, meal consumption and lifestyle. Avoiding high-energy dense foods is insufficient to prevent obesity, if physical activity and the consumption frequency of health-promoting foods are low and breakfast and a school meal are frequently skipped. The results highlight the importance of the nutrition knowledge of teenagers in shaping their health-promoting dietary habits and active lifestyle to decrease adiposity risk and negative aspects of lower family affluence which promotes unhealthy behaviours, both related to diet and lifestyle.
Highlights
IntroductionAdolescence is a period of important changes in physical, mental and social development
Adolescence is a period of important changes in physical, mental and social development.The awareness of one’s own sexuality and gender differences arises with regard to nutritional and caloric needs as well as physical abilities
The adherence to the Fast-food-Sedentary, when compared to the Prudent-Active pattern, was lower by 38% (OR = 0.62, 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs): 0.43–0.89; p < 0.01) in girls than boys, lower by 47% (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34–0.81; p < 0.01) in moderate and 51% (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.81; p < 0.01) in high than low Family Affluence Scale (FAS), lower by 62% (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.25–0.57; p < 0.0001) in the middle and 84% (OR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.10–0.26; p < 0.0001) in the upper than the bottom tertile of the nutrition knowledge score, and 3.2 times higher (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.56–6.54; p < 0.01) in 13-year-old than 11-year-old teenagers
Summary
Adolescence is a period of important changes in physical, mental and social development. The awareness of one’s own sexuality and gender differences arises with regard to nutritional and caloric needs as well as physical abilities. Boys spend more time being active, while girls spend more time socializing [5,6,7]. In this period, the establishment of health-promoting dietary and lifestyle habits plays a crucial role for achieving full growth potential and preventing diet-related diseases throughout the whole lifespan [8,9]
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