Analysis of Adolescent Physical Activity Levels and Their Relationship with Body Image and Nutritional Habits

David Manzano-Sánchez, María Victoria Palop-Montoro, Milagros Arteaga-Checa and Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela
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David Manzano-Sánchez: Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
María Victoria Palop-Montoro: Faculty of Health of Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Milagros Arteaga-Checa: Grupo de Investigación CTS-1018 Physical Activity for Health Promotion, Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela: Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: The main objective of this research article was to make a cluster analysis in Compulsory Secondary Education students with regard to their physical activity levels, their relationship with nutritional habits and body perception. In this study, a total of 1089 students participated, to whom a battery of tests was given in order to assess three aspects: levels of physical activity, food consumption habits and perception of body image. The main results indicated that the adolescent sample presented high levels of physical activity in comparison with other studies. In addition, a profile analysis was carried out, showing that there were no differences in physical activity, in nutritional habits or in body-image index. Taking into account gender, women who practice light physical activity had better nutritional habits. On the other hand, boys dominated in the group of moderate-to-high physical activity, while the girls were mainly included in the profile of low physical activity. Finally, body-image index was greater in men than women. It was concluded that is necessary to promote the importance of adequate nutritional habits in addition to physical activity, and it is necessary to promote body image, particularly among adolescent girls, given their low values of physical activity and worse body-image perception in relation to boys.

Keywords: physical exercise; physical education; nutrition; body perception; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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