Influence of Adiposity on Physical Activity in Schoolchildren: The Moderator Role of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet

José Francisco López-Gil, Antonio García-Hermoso, Rafael Gomes Sentone, Cristiano Israel Caetano, Fernando Renato Cavichiolli and Juan Luis Yuste Lucas
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José Francisco López-Gil: Departamento de Actividad Física y Deporte, Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Murcia (UM), 30720 San Javier, Region of Murcia, Spain
Antonio García-Hermoso: Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
Rafael Gomes Sentone: Departamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), 81531-980 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Cristiano Israel Caetano: Departamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), 81531-980 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Fernando Renato Cavichiolli: Departamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), 81531-980 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Juan Luis Yuste Lucas: Departamento de Expresión Plástica, Musical y Dinámica, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Murcia (UM), 30100 Espinardo, Region of Murcia, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Studies were performed in order to determine the existing relationship between body composition and both physical activity (PA) levels and food habits. Nevertheless, no study has yet examined if the association between adiposity and PA in children is moderated by adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). Methods: the cross-sectional and associative analysis involved a total of 370 children (55.1% boys) aged 6–13, from six different schools from the Murcia region of Spain. Results: The different values of moderator [adherence to the MD expressed as a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) score] are shown by the slope and the different areas of significance. The first area was shown below ≤3.8, indicating that the unfavorable influence of excess of adiposity on PA could be intensified for children in this area. The second area was a significant positive area was shown above ≥9.3, expressing that the unfavorable influence of adiposity could be reduced for those who were above this estimation point. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that the adverse effects of excess adiposity on PA can be moderated by adherence to the MD among schoolchildren.

Keywords: healthy diet; obesity; feeding patterns; lifestyle; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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