Physical activity and eating habits of adolescent students: national school health survey (PeNSE), 2015

Abstract

Adolescence is a phase of biopsychosocial changes, bringing with it habits that can consolidate and persist in adulthood, especially negative habits related to eating and practicing physical activities. This study investigated the association between physical activities and regular consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods in school adolescents. The analysis included 16.556 school adolescents from the National School Health Survey 2015. The dependent variable was the regular practice of physical activities and the independent variables were the regular consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods. A chi-squared test was used with a significance level of 5%. The regular practice of physical activity was reported by 20,7% of adolescents. The majority presented adequate nutritional status. The proportion of adolescents who regularly consumed healthy food markers ranged from 54,9% to 72%, compared to unhealthy markers, ranging from 15,4% to 59,6%. There was a statistically significant association between the consumption of healthy foods, such as beans, fruits and vegetables and the practice of physical exercises (p<0.05). Habits that ensure optimal nutrition and increase the level of physical activity contribute to improving the health status of the population. There is evidence of the need for public measures to promote health in order to improve the pattern of physical inactivity in adolescents and consumption of unhealthy foods, reducing overweight in this age group and, above all, preventing chronic noncommunicable diseases in adult life.