Influence of Lifestyle Habits in the Development of Obesity during Adolescence

Pedro Juan Carpena Lucas, Francisco Sánchez-Cubo, Manuel Vargas Vargas and José Mondéjar Jiménez
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Pedro Juan Carpena Lucas: Pediatric Service, Hospital Virgen del Castillo, 30510 Murcia, Spain
Francisco Sánchez-Cubo: Department of Political Economy and Public Finance, Economic and Business Statistics and Economic Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 16007 Cuenca, Spain
Manuel Vargas Vargas: Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
José Mondéjar Jiménez: Department of Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences in Cuenca, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 16007 Cuenca, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Background: The alarming increase in childhood obesity is a global public health problem since it has significant health consequences. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the potentially modifiable risk factors for developing excess weight and determine the importance of developing certain habits to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Methods: The sample included 416 students between the ages of 12 and 14 (12.8 ± 0.62) first-year high school students from Murcia in Spain. Data were collected on their lifestyle habits through the ENHASA questionnaire, and the somatometry of the participants was measured. Such data were studied through structural equation modeling and importance-performance map analyses. Results: The modifiable risk factors that presented the greatest potency directly regarding when developing excess weight in adolescents were ‘use of electronic devices’ and ‘not performing physical activity’ ( p < 0.001). ‘Social and school environment’ and ‘diet’ showed relationships but no significant differences with overweight or obesity. Globally, the lifestyle habit of the greatest importance for not being overweight was ‘engagement in extracurricular physical activities’. On the other hand, the habits related to using new technologies in a sedentary way showed the best capacity for improvement. Therefore, it would be very efficient to focus on them to control excess weight. Conclusion: Responsible and limited use of screens and engaging in extracurricular physical activities may be the most remarkable and cost-effective strategies for obesity prevention programs.

Keywords: importance-performance map analysis; lifestyle; prevention; structural equation modeling; teenagers; obesity; overweight (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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