Association between sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic factors, diet and lifestyle among the Balearic Islands adolescents
BMC Public Health
Association between sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic factors, diet and lifestyle among the Balearic Islands adolescents
Maria del Mar Bibiloni 0
Jordi Pich 0
Alfredo Crdova 1
Antoni Pons 0
Josep A Tur 0
0 Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of Balearic Islands , Guillem Colom Bldg, Campus, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca , Spain
1 Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Health Sciences, University School of Physiotherapy, University of Valladolid , Soria 42004 , Spain
Background: Many different factors influenced food habits and physical activity patterns of adolescents in a complex interactive way. The aim of this study was to assess association between sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic factors, diet and lifestyle among the Balearic Islands adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional survey (n = 1961; 12-17 years old) was carried out. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for adolescents (IPAQ-A). Sedentary behaviour was defined as <300 min/week of moderate and vigorous physical activity. Anthropometric measurements, body image, socio-economic and lifestyle determinants, food consumption, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were assessed. Results: The prevalence of sedentary behaviour was 37.1% (22.0% boys, 50.8% girls). Active boys consumed frequently breakfast cereals and fresh fruit; active girls yogurt, cheese, breakfast cereals, and fresh fruit; and sedentary girls high fat foods and soft drinks. Sedentary behaviour of girls was directly associated to age, and time spent on media screen and homework, and inversely related to adherence to Mediterranean diet, and body composition. Sedentary behaviour of boys was inversely related to adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and the desire to remain the same weight. Conclusions: The prevalence of sedentary behaviour among Balearic Islands adolescents is high, mainly among girls. Age, sex, parental educational and profession levels, body size dissatisfaction, and poor quality diet are important factors of physical activity practice among adolescents.
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Background
Adolescence is a transitional stage and many changes
take place at physiologic and behavioural levels,
representing an important life stage for the development of
healthy nutrition [1] and physical activity behaviours.
Many different factors influenced food habits and
physical activity patterns in a complex interactive way [2].
Socio-cultural factors as parental occupational status,
maternal level of education, cultural and/or religious
habits, and the role of family and patterns of beauty are
factors that have a strong influence on eating habits [3]
and physical activity in adolescents [4-7].
Reductions in physical activity in youth as a result of
adopt a major inactive lifestyle, increasing time spent
watching television, playing video games and Internet
over the past two decades are believed to explain part of
the rising prevalence of obesity in children and
adolescents [8-10]. The prevalence of overweight and obesity
among children and adolescents has risen greatly
worldwide [8], with current estimates suggesting that around
30% of boys and 25% of girls in the Balearic Islands are
overweight or obese [11]. However, physical inactivity
has been related not only to obesity but also to the
associated morbidity and non transmittable chronic diseases
[12], being one of the major importance in public health
because is highly prevalent [13,14].
Cohort studies have evidenced that physical inactivity
during childhood and/or adolescence tends to continue
into adulthood, becoming difficult to change [7,15].
However, among environmental factors of obesity and
risk of disease the lack of regular physical activity is
potentially modifiable [13] and programs to stimulate
physical activities in this age range should be a priority for
public health policies and a focus for teachers [7].
Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess association
between sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic factors,
diet and lifestyle among Balearic Islands adolescents.
Methods
Study design
The study is a population-based cross-sectional
nutritional survey carried out (20072008) in the Balearic
Islands (Spain), a Mediterranean region.
Selection of participants, recruitment and approval
A multicenter study was performed on Balearic Islands
adolescents aged 1217 years. The population was
selected by means of a multiple-step, simple random
sampling, taking into account first the location (Palma
de Mallorca, Calvi, Inca, Manacor, Ma, Eivissa,
Llucmajor, Santa Margalida, SArenal, Sant Jordi de Ses
Salines) and then by random assignment of the schools
within each city. Sample size was stratified by age and
sex. The socio-economic variable was considered to be
associated to geographical location and type of school.
As the selection of schools was done by random
selection and fulfilling quota, this variable was (...truncated)