Are 24-hour movement recommendations associated with obesity-related indicators in the young population? A meta-analysis

Linking 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines to core symptoms and school engagement of youth with moderate/severe ADHD

BACKGROUND

The independent associations of physical activity (PA), sleep duration (SL), and screen time (ST) with health outcome measures have been well-documented among children and adolescents, but not in youth with moderate/severe ADHD. To this end, the present study aimed to investigate the associations between three components within 24-hour movement behaviour (24-HMB) framework and core symptoms and school engagement in youth with moderate/severe ADHD.

METHODS

This study used pooled data from the 2021-2022 U.S. National Survey of Children's Health, which included a nationally representative sample of 4797 youth aged 6-17 years. Logistic/Ordinal regressions examined associations between meeting 24-HMB guideline combinations and core symptoms and school engagement among youth with moderate/severe ADHD, adjusting for age, sex, family income, body mass index, and ethnicity.

RESULTS

Only 6.9% of youth with moderate/severe ADHD met all three 24-HMB guidelines. Compared to those meeting no guidelines, youth meeting all guidelines was beneficially associated with inattention symptoms (self-regulation: OR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.35-0.57; concentration: OR= 1.26, 95%CI: 1.01-1.55) and better performance of school engagement (caring about doing well: OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.41-0.65; completing homework: OR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.39-0.62). Meeting the ST + SL guidelines was associated with significantly lower odds of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (argument, OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12-1.58; staying calm, OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46-0.75) compared to those who met none of guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Meeting 24-HMB guidelines was associated with lower likelihood of ADHD core symptoms and greater likelihood of school engagement. Integrative "whole day" behavioural interventions warrant consideration for improving school engagement-related outcomes and reducing ADHD core symptoms in this vulnerable population.

Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To quantitatively synthesize published evidence on the association between 24-hour movement behavior composition with adiposity in children and adolescents aged 3-18 years.

METHODS

Systematic literature searches were conducted in five electronic databases to identify papers published between January 2015 and January 2024. A machine learning-assisted systematic review was conducted to identify studies applying compositional data analysis to examine the association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and youth. Random effect meta-analyses were estimated to examine the relative association between each component of the 24-hour movement behavior composition and body mass index z-score (zBMI), waist circumference, fat mass percentage, and fat mass index (FMI).

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies reporting on 15,230 children and youth were included in the review. Most studies reported on zBMI (k = 14), followed by waist circumference (k = 5), body fat percentage (k = 3), and FMI (k = 2). Spending more time sleeping and engaged in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) relative to other behaviors was associated with lower adiposity, while spending more time sedentary and engaged in light-intensity physical activity was associated with higher adiposity.

CONCLUSION

These results provide support for most recommendations of the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines, including getting an adequate amount of sleep, limiting sedentary time, and engaging in MVPA, to improve adiposity outcomes.

Out-of-school Activities and Adherence to 24-hour Movement Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to explore associations between participation in out-of-school/weekend organized activities and adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines among US adolescents.

METHODS

Data from the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health (N=16,403, age=15.1±1.4 years, 48.1% female) was used for analyses in 2024. A parent/guardian completed surveys regarding adolescents' 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity [PA], sleep [SL], and screentime [ST]), as well as participation in out-of-school and weekend activities (sports, clubs, other organized activities, and volunteering). Weighted logistic regression models were used to examine associations between participation in out-of-school and weekend organized activities and 24-hour movement guideline adherence, adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, federal poverty level status, metropolitan statistical area status, and overweight/obesity status.

RESULTS

Only 4.8% of adolescents met all three guidelines concurrently. Adolescents who participated in sports teams/lessons had higher odds of meeting PA (OR=2.11, 95% CI: 1.67-2.66), ST (OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.12-1.53), PA+ST (OR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.63-3.07), PA+SL (OR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.53-2.63), SL+ST (OR=1.40, 95% CI; 1.19-1.66), and all three guidelines (OR=2.33, 95% CI: 1.61-3.39). Participation in other organized activities/lessons was associated with higher odds of meeting ST (OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.56), and SL+ST guidelines (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.16-1.66). Adolescents who volunteered had higher odds of meeting ST (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.42-1.98), PA+ST (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.25-2.45), SL+ST (OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.38-1.95), and all three guidelines (OR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.20-2.72).

CONCLUSIONS

Participating in sports teams/lessons and community service/volunteer work is beneficially associated with concurrently meeting all three 24-hour movement guidelines and participating in other organized activities or lessons is associated with adherence to individual components of the 24-hour movement guidelines among US adolescents.

Reallocating Time Between 24-h Movement Behaviors for Obesity Management Across the Lifespan: A Pooled Data Meta-Analysis of More Than 9800 Participants from Seven Countries

BACKGROUND

The distribution of time across physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep appears to be essential for the management of obesity. However, the impact of reallocating time among these behaviors, collectively known as 24-h movement behaviors, remains underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the theoretical effects of reallocating time between 24-h movement behaviors on obesity indicators across different age groups.

METHODS

We performed a pooled data meta-analysis of 9818 participants from 11 observational and experimental studies. To estimate the time spent in movement behaviors, we reprocessed and harmonized individual-level raw accelerometer-derived data. Isotemporal substitution models estimated theoretical changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) associated with time reallocation between movement behaviors. We performed the analysis separately for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

RESULTS

Even minor reallocations of 10 min led to significant changes in obesity indicators, with pronounced effects observed when 30 min were reallocated. The most substantial adverse effects on BMI and WC occurred when moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was reallocated to other movement behaviors. For 30-min reallocations, the largest increase in BMI (or BMI z-score for children) occurred when MVPA was reallocated to light-intensity physical activity (LPA) in children (0.26 units, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15, 0.37) and to sedentary behavior (SB) in adults (0.72 kg/m2, 95% CI 0.47, 0.96) and older adults (0.73 kg/m2, 95% CI 0.59, 0.87). The largest increase in WC was observed when MVPA was substituted with LPA in adults (2.66 cm, 95% CI 1.42, 3.90) and with SB in older adults (2.43 cm, 95% CI 2.07, 2.79). Conversely, the highest magnitude of the decrease in obesity indicators was observed when SB was substituted with MVPA. Specifically, substituting 30 min of SB with MVPA was associated with a decrease in BMI z-score by - 0.15 units (95% CI - 0.21, - 0.10) in children and lower BMI by - 0.56 kg/m2 (95% CI - 0.74, - 0.39) in adults and by - 0.52 kg/m2 (95% CI - 0.61, - 0.43) in older adults. Reallocating time away from sleep and LPA showed several significant changes but lacked a consistent pattern. While the predicted changes in obesity indicators were generally consistent across age groups, inconsistent findings were observed in adolescents, particularly for reallocations between MVPA and other behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

This investigation emphasizes the crucial role of MVPA in mitigating obesity risk across the lifespan, and the benefit of substituting SB with low-intensity movement behaviors. The distinct patterns observed in adolescents suggest a need for age-specific lifestyle interventions to effectively address obesity. Emphasizing manageable shifts, such as 10-min reallocations, could have significant public health implications, promoting sustainable lifestyle changes that accommodate individuals with diverse needs, including those with severe obesity.

Unveiling the association between 24-hour movement guidelines and academic engagement in adolescents

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between adherence to different possible combinations of the 24-hour movement guidelines and academic engagement in adolescents.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study involved 742 students (median = 15.00; interquartile range = 3.00), aged 12 to 17 years (422 girls; 56.9%). Physical activity, screen time, sleep duration, and academic engagement were measured using self-report measurements. A generalized additive mixed model and a generalized linear mixed model were used to examine the association between adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines and academic engagement. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, body mass index, and school were considered as covariates.

RESULTS

Students who met all three guidelines showed the highest levels of academic engagement. Conversely, the lowest levels of academic engagement were observed in those who did not meet any of the guidelines. In addition, students' academic engagement was higher as more 24-hour movement guidelines were met.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest the importance of jointly promoting 24-hour movement guidelines, as it appears to have greater benefits on adolescent academic outcomes.

IMPACT

Not meeting any of the three 24-hour movement guidelines was associated with lower academic engagement. Meeting all three 24-hour movement guidelines was related to higher academic engagement. Previous research has focused on the association between the three 24-hour movement guidelines and academic performance. However, the relationships of these behaviors on academic engagement have been little studied. The results of this study highlight the importance of promoting these three behaviors in adolescent academic outcomes.

24-hour Movement Behaviour study-Lithuanian protocol: a comprehensive overview of behaviours and health outcomes in adolescents

The 24-hour Movement Behaviour (24-h MovBeh) paradigm, encompassing physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep patterns, is recognised as a holistic approach to adolescent health. It emphasises promoting PA, reducing SB and ensuring sufficient sleep, especially in school environments. Understanding the links between lifestyle factors and health outcomes is crucial for clinical and public health, informing interventions for lifestyle changes among adolescents. This study aims to assess adherence to 24-h MovBeh among Lithuanian adolescents, examining the patterns, inter-relationships and impacts on socio-demographic status, 24-h MovBeh, health-related fitness, blood pressure, body composition, dietary patterns, health-related quality of life, mental health, physical and exercise motivation, other lifestyles and health indicators, and academic performance. The 24-h MovBeh study is a prospective cohort study beginning in 2025 with baseline data collected in schools. It will recruit 500 primary and secondary school adolescents (11-14 years old) from Klaipeda and Kaunas, Lithuania. The study will evaluate 11 main categories: Socio-demographic status, 24-h MovBeh, health-related fitness, blood pressure, body composition, dietary patterns, health-related quality of life, mental health, physical and exercise motivation, other lifestyles and health indicators, and academic performance. Statistical analysis will estimate adherence to 24-h MovBeh and its inter-relationships with individual and environmental factors and health outcomes. The 24-h MovBeh study will be a crucial step towards establishing a monitoring system for health and lifestyle outcomes, benefiting researchers, policymakers, adolescents, and parents, while laying the groundwork for future intervention studies.

24-hour movement behavior adherence and associations with health outcomes: an umbrella review

Background

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, collectively known as the 24-hour movement behaviors, demonstrate individual and joint benefits on physical and mental health. Examination of these behaviors has expanded beyond guideline adherence to reviews of isotemporal substitution models (ISM) and compositional data analysis (CoDA). This umbrella review sought to review existing systematic reviews to (1) characterize the breadth and scope, (2) examine prevalence estimates for 24-hour movement guideline adherence, and (3) examine the relationship between these behaviors with health outcomes based on various approaches.

Methods

Eight databases and multiple supplementary strategies were used to identify systematic reviews, meta-analyses and pooled analyses that included two or more of the three 24-hour movement behaviors and a multi-behavior assessment approach. Overall review characteristics, movement behavior definitions, approaches, and health outcomes assessed were extracted, and methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR2 tool. Review characteristics (Aim 1), guideline prevalence estimates (Aim 2), and associations with health outcomes (Aim 3) were examined.

Findings

Thirty-two reviews (20 systematic reviews, 10 meta-analyses, and 2 pooled analyses) were included. Reviews captured the entire lifespan, global regions, and several physical and mental health outcomes. Individual and total guideline adherence waned from preschool to adolescence, but reviews reported similar prevalence estimates and ranges (i.e., within 10%). Common approaches included ISM and CoDA, evaluating 24-hour movement behavior's interactive associations with health outcomes, guideline adherence, and profile-based analysis. Despite heterogeneous approaches, reviews found consistent evidence for beneficial associations between meeting all three guidelines and high amount of physical activity on physical and mental health outcomes, but varied assessment of sedentary behavior or sleep. Most reviews were rated as low or critically low quality.

Conclusions

The breadth and scope of current reviews on 24-hour movement behaviors was wide and varied in this umbrella review, including all ages and across the globe. Prevalence estimates among populations beyond children need to be synthesized. Amongst the variety of definitions and approaches, reviews found benefit from achieving healthy amounts of all three behaviors. Longitudinal multi-behavior original research studies with rigorous assessment of sleep and sedentary behavior may help improve future systematic reviews of these various approaches.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s44167-024-00064-6.

24-H movement behaviours research in Chinese population: A scoping review

Background

Numerous studies examining 24-h movement behaviours have been exponentially published globally. However, no comprehensive reviews summarized and synthesized the evidence on the Chinese population. This review aimed to map the most recent research state and fill the gaps related to 24-h movement behaviours in the Chinese population.

Methods

Five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and CNKI (Chinese database)) were searched from their inceptions through October 2023. Quantitative studies published in English and/or Chinese were included if they were related to 24-h movement behaviours in the Chinese population.

Results

From 9431 documents screened, 53 met the inclusion criteria. All the included studies were published between 2019 and 2023, showing a notable increasing trend over the years. Most studies used cross-sectional designs (96.2 %) and self-reported measures (56.6 %). Nearly all the studies targeted general healthy population (96.2 %), especially children and adolescents (64.2 %). The main three research topics observed were health outcomes (81.1 %), prevalence (66.0 %), and correlates (15.1 %) of 24-h movement behaviours.

Conclusion

24-h movement behaviours in the Chinese population has been an increasingly important research topic in the literature, with predominant focus on children and adolescents (study population), self-report measure (measurement), cross-sectional design (study design), guidelines adherence (study topic), and health outcomes examination (study topic). These findings delineate a research landscape in the Chinese population, and highlight the research gaps needed to be addressed. Future studies are suggested to target these research gaps, expanding evidence base for the Chinese populations. For instance, more studies using device-based measures, longitudinal or interventional designs, as well as qualitative and mixed-methods approaches are required.

Associations of 24-hour movement guidelines adherence with fruit and vegetable intake in university students

Background

Unhealthy eating habits, such as low vegetable and fruit intake, are associated with many health problems. 24-h movement behaviors have been reported to be positively associated with numerous health-related outcomes. Despite the importance of these two modifiable lifestyle behaviors in building healthy habits in university students, there is a paucity of relevant research in this population. Therefore, this study aims to examine the correlation between compliance with 24-h movement guideline (24-h MG) and intake of fruits and vegetables (IFV) in Chinese university students.

Methods

This study investigated the relationship between the compliance with 24-h MG and IFV in 1,793 Chinese university students using a convenience sampling method online. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, while sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II was used to measure IFV. Generalized linear models were applied to examine the correlation between compliance with the 24-h MG and eating habits.

Results

The proportion of participants who routinely consumed vegetables and fruits was 24.6% and 43.1%, respectively, while the proportion of meeting the three 24-h MG and a combination of any two guidelines was 27.8% and 40.1%, respectively. Meeting all three guidelines was associated with a greater IFV intake compared to not meeting either guideline. Meeting all three guidelines (OR = 2.42 [1.63, 3.58]) and the combination of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and sleep (OR = 2.06 [1.37, 3.10]) were positively associated with the frequency of vegetable consumption (p < 0.05). As well, meeting all three guidelines (OR = 2.06 [1.37, 3.10]), the combination of MVPA and sleep (OR = 1.72 [1.04, 2.84]), and sleep only (OR = 1.88 [1.21, 2.92]) were positively associated with fruits consumption (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Almost a third of the university students met the three 24-h MG, and compliance with all three guidelines was associated with a higher frequency of IFV. Furthermore, meeting the sleep guideline alone or in conjunction with the PA, and meeting the entire 24-h MG was associated with greater consumption of fruits.

Region of Murcia's 2022 report card on physical activity for children and youth

Objective

The aim of this review was to summarize the process and results of the Region of Murcia's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

Methods

Indicators from the Global Matrix initiative (Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport & Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, Active Play, Active Transport, Sedentary Behaviors, Family & Peers, School, Community & Environment, and Government) were evaluated based on the best available data in the Region of Murcia.

Results

Active play was the indicator with the highest grade (B+), followed by Organized Sport & Physical Activity (B) and Active Play (B). School and Family and Peers indicators obtained a C+ and C grade, respectively. Both Community and Environment and Sedentary Behaviors indicators received a D+ grade. The grade for Overall Physical Activity and Government indicators was D. Physical Fitness was the indicator with the lowest grade of this Report Card (D-). None of the indicators received an incomplete grade (INC) because of a lack of available information.

Conclusions

The present Report Card offers evidence highlighting the low level of physical activity in Spanish children and adolescents living in the Region of Murcia. Further studies and surveillance efforts are urgently needed for most of the indicators analyzed, which should be addressed by researchers and the Region of Murcia's Government for this specific population. A strong commitment from the Government of the Region of Murcia is needed at all levels to promote a cultural change that will lead children and young people in this region to improve the current situation.

Prevalence of obesity and associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in Ecuadorian children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Given the increasing prevalence of obesity in young people in Ecuador, there is a need to understand the factors associated with this condition. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of obesity in Ecuadorian children and adolescents aged 5-17 years and identify its associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (ENSANUT-2018). The final sample consisted of 11,980 participants who provided full information on the variables of interest.

RESULTS

The prevalence of obesity was 12.7%. A lower odd of having obesity was observed for adolescents; for those with a breadwinner with an educational level in middle/high school or higher; for each additional day with 60 or more minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; and for those with greater daily vegetable consumption (one, two, or three or more servings). Conversely, there were greater odds of obesity in participants from families with medium, poor, and very poor wealth and those from the coast and insular region.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of obesity in Ecuadorian children and adolescents is a public health concern. Sociodemographic and lifestyle behavior differences in young people with obesity should be considered when developing specific interventions.

IMPACT

As the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents increases in Latin America, with a particular focus on Ecuador, it becomes crucial to delve into the factors linked to this condition and identify the most successful strategies for its mitigation. The elevated prevalence of obesity among young individuals in Ecuador raises significant public health concerns. To develop targeted interventions, it is crucial to account for sociodemographic variables and lifestyle behaviors that contribute to obesity in this population.

Relationship between perceived physical literacy and obesity-related outcomes in adolescents: the EHDLA study

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between perceived physical literacy and obesity-related outcomes among adolescents from Spain.

Methods

This is a secondary cross-sectional analysis including a total sample of 845 Spanish adolescents (55.3% girls) aged 12-17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia) from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) project. Physical literacy was evaluated using the Spanish Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument for adolescents (S-PPLI). Body mass index was computed by taking the participants' body weight in kilograms and dividing it by the square of their height in meters, and body mass index (z score) and overweight/obesity and obesity were computed by the World Health Organization age- and sex-specific thresholds. Waist circumference was measured using a constant tension tape. Moreover, the waist-to-height ratio was calculated, and therefore, abdominal obesity was determined. Skinfold measurements were taken at the triceps and medial calf using calibrated steel calipers.

Results

In general, the overall trend was downward (i.e., the higher the PPLI score the lower the obesity-related indicators), with the approximate significance of smooth terms being statistically significant for all models examined (p < 0.001). Adolescents with lower perceived physical literacy (PPL) showed the highest estimated marginal means of body mass index, body mass index z score, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and skinfold (triceps and calf) and predictive probabilities of having excess weight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, while their counterparts with high PPL had the lowest. In addition, significant differences were observed for all the obesity-related indications between adolescents with low PPL and those with medium PPL (p-adjusted < 0.05 for all indicators), as well as with those with high PPL (p-adjusted < 0.05 for all indicators). Moreover, these significant differences were also shown for most indicators between adolescents with medium PPL and those with high PPL (except for obesity).

Conclusion

Physical literacy could play a crucial role in maintaining more desirable obesity-related outcomes in adolescents. Adolescents with high perceived physical literacy showed lower obesity-related indicators (i.e., body mass index, body mass index z score, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, skinfolds), as well as a lower probability of having excess weight, obesity, and abdominal obesity.

Reasons and promotion strategies of physical activity constraints in obese/overweight children and adolescents

To explore the reasons for low levels of physical activity in obese/overweight children and adolescents and to propose appropriate strategies to promote their physical activity (PA). This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines by searching and analyzing the literature of studies related to physical activity in obese/overweight children and adolescents published between January 2003 and January 2023 in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases. A total of 31 relevant studies were included for analysis, of which 16 were quantitative and 15 qualitative. According to these studies, the PA of obese/overweight children and adolescents is mainly constrained by negative factors: Individual, interpersonal, and environmental. Among these factors, low levels of individual motivation and psychological sensitivity and vulnerability, lack of family support, negative social feedback, insufficient protection from government policies, and inadequate support from the built environment are the main reasons that constrain their PA. The promotion of PA in obese/overweight children and adolescents, who are subject to more constraints at all levels, requires a system of security that involves the government, the community, the school, and the family to address the problems they encounter and enhance the sustainability of engagement in PA.

Higher Imported Food Patterns Are Associated with Obesity and Severe Obesity in Tuvalu: A Latent Class Analysis

Background

Tuvalu is a Pacific Island country within the small island developing states that has observed a significant and alarming increase in obesity rates over the past 40 years, affecting ∼60 %-70 % of the current population.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the association between food patterns and the proportion of obesity in a Pacific Island country.

Methods

The 2022 COMmunity-based Behavior and Attitude survey in Tuvalu (COMBAT) included 985 adults with complete data on sociodemographic information and the frequency of consumption of 25 common foods. A latent class analysis determined 4 food patterns. Bayesian multilevel logistic and linear regression models estimated the association between food patterns and the proportion of obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2], severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m2), and weight (kg), adjusting for potential confounders and accounting for clustering by region.

Results

The latent class analysis revealed 4 food patterns with an entropy of 0.94 and an average posterior probability of class assignment for each individual of 0.97, described as follows: 1) local: locally produced foods with moderate food diversity (proportion of individuals = 28 %); 2) diverse-local: local with greater food diversity (17 %); 3) restricted-imported: more imported with restricted diversity (29 %); and 4) imported: heavily imported with high diversity (26 %). Compared to those following the diverse-local pattern, the odds of having obesity were greater for those classified with the imported pattern [odds ratio (OR): 2.52; 95 % credible interval (CrI): 1.59, 3.99], restricted-imported pattern (OR: 1.89; 95 % CrI: 1.59, 3.99), and local pattern (OR: 1.54; 95 % CrI: 0.94, 2.50). Similar trends were observed for severe obesity while body weight was positively associated with both restricted-imported and imported food patterns.

Conclusions

The high consumption of imported foods, together with the low consumption of plant-based foods and protein-rich foods, could be a relevant modifiable lifestyle factor explaining the high levels of obesity and severe obesity in Tuvalu, a Pacific Island country.

Physical Activity, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Body Dissatisfaction in Physical Education of Extremadura Adolescents: An Exploratory Study

In recent years, physical activity levels among youths have declined significantly. This has led to a decline in adherence to physical activity recommendations. In this sense, physical education offers an ideal environment that contributes positively to improving adherence to physical activity recommendations, as it teaches students movement-related skills and knowledge. The objective of the present research was to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels, body composition, fitness in Physical Education, and body dissatisfaction levels, and to analyse sex differences in relation to the study variables. The sample was formed of 1166 participants from the 1st and 2nd secondary compulsory education, of which 642 were boys (age 13.16 ± 0.91), and 524 girls (age 13.08 ± 0.85). The measure of physical activity was the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). Body composition was assessed using weight and height to calculate their body mass index. Cardiorespiratory capacity was assessed using the Course-Navette test in Physical Education lessons. The results showed the relationship between physical activity and body mass index, cardiorespiratory capacity, and body satisfaction. It was also confirmed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a lower body mass index, improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower levels of body dissatisfaction to a greater extent in boys than in girls. The study concludes that improvements in the study variables were associated with increased physical activity. In addition, it seems necessary to promote healthy lifestyles in physical education lessons, especially during adolescence, as they could serve as a gateway for the improvement of health-related fitness in future generations. Increasing the amount of physical activity among young people is vital. Therefore, it would be essential to develop intervention programs in physical education classes, especially during adolescence, aimed at promoting and increasing physical activity and its benefits.