Physical Education and the Adoption of Habits Related to the Mediterranean Diet

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.

Integrating the theory of planned behavior and the self-determination theory to promote Mediterranean diet adherence: A randomized controlled trial

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is one of the healthiest and most sustainable food regimes. Nevertheless, MD diffusion is still limited, emphasizing the need to understand the psychosocial factors that could predict and promote its adoption. Starting from an integrated model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the present randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of manipulating motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) on intention and MD adherence behavior. Participants included 726 Italian adults randomly allocated to one of three conditions: autonomous motivation manipulation, controlled motivation manipulation, and control group. TPB variables were measured immediately after manipulation (T1), while MD adherence was evaluated 2 weeks later (T2). Results from multivariate analyses of variance highlighted that participants in the autonomous motivation condition reported higher intention and a more favorable cognitive attitude than control group participants. However, no change in behavior was found. Moreover, a path analysis with mediation effect showed that the impact of autonomous motivation condition versus control group on intention was mediated by cognitive attitude. Findings support the integration of TPB and SDT to encourage intention to adhere to the MD, also suggesting that prompting autonomous motivation may help to promote a greater diffusion of this healthy and sustainable dietary pattern.

Cross-Sectional Association between Perceived Physical Literacy and Mediterranean Dietary Patterns in Adolescents: The EHDLA Study

PURPOSE

The objective of the current study was to analyze the relationship between perceived physical literacy (PPL) and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and its specific components in a sample of Spanish adolescents.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we examined a sample of 845 adolescents (58.1% boys) aged 12-17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). PPL was assessed by the Spanish Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument for adolescents (S-PPLI). To assess adherence to the MedDiet, the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents (KIDMED) was applied.

RESULTS

In unadjusted analyses, adolescents with medium or high PPL were more likely to have optimal adherence to the MedDiet (medium PPL: OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.20-2.40, p-adjusted = 0.003; high PPL: OR = 2.90, 95% CI 2.03-4.17, p-adjusted < 0.001). These findings remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, socioeconomic status, body mass index, energy intake, overall sleep duration, physical activity, and sedentary behavior (medium PPL: OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.05-2.19, p-adjusted = 0.003; high PPL: OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.53-3.39, p-adjusted < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PPL could play a relevant role in the adoption of healthy eating habits among adolescents. Adolescents with low or medium PPL were less likely to report optimal adherence to the MedDiet. Adolescents with high PPL seem to consume more fruits, vegetables, fish, pulses, nuts, and dairies (for breakfast). Conversely, these adolescents tend to skip breakfast less, as well as to consume less commercially baked goods or pastries at this meal.

The impact of perceived school climate on exercise behavior engagement among obese adolescents: a dual mediation effect test of exercise benefits and perseverance qualities

Introduction

This study explores the relationship between perceived school climate and exercise behavior among obese adolescents, as well as the multiple mediating effects of perseverance qualities and exercise benefits.

Methods

A survey was conducted on 586 obese adolescents in Beijing, with an age range of 13-18 years old and an average age of 15.40 ± 1.824, among who 337 were male, 249 were female, 303 were high school students and 238 were middle school students. A standard scale was used to evaluate perceived school climate, exercise benefits, perseverance qualities, and exercise behaviors. The data was analyzed by independent samples t-test, bivariate correlation analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, and structural equation model (SEM).

Results

(1) Perceived school climate among obese adolescents positively predicted exercise behavior (Z = 2.870, p < 0.01), perseverance qualities (Z = 3.107, p < 0.01) and exercise benefits (Z = 4.290, p < 0.001); perseverance qualities positively predicted exercise behavior in obese adolescents (Z = 4.431, p < 0.001); exercise benefits positively predicted the obese adolescents' exercise behavior (Z = 4.267, p < 0.001). (2) Perseverance qualities (Z = 2.282, 95% CI [0.032, 0.191], [0.028, 0.179]) and exercise benefits (Z = 2.518, 95% CI [0.060, 0.287], [0.053, 0.271]) play a mediating role in the obese adolescents' perceived school climate and exercise behavior, respectively. These two factors have parallel multiple mediating effects between obese adolescents' perceived school climate and exercise behavior, with mediating effects accounting for 16 and 25%, respectively. The mediating effect of exercise benefits is greater than that of perseverance qualities. (3) There is no difference in the specific indirect effects of perseverance qualities and exercise benefits (Z = -0.800, 95% CI [- 0.198, 0.064], [-0.190, 0.068]).

Conclusion

Obese adolescents' perception of school climate can effectively enhance their motivation to participate in exercise behavior and indirectly influence exercise behavior through exercise benefits and perseverance qualities, cultivate good physical exercise behavior among obese adolescents, and effectively prevent and intervene in the occurrence of obesity.

The Role of Basic Psychological Needs in the Adoption of Healthy Habits by Adolescents

Previous research in this field has not examined the significance of each of the basic psychological needs (BPNs) on changes in the physical activity level, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD), kinanthropometric and derived variables, and the physical fitness of adolescents. Therefore, the purpose of this study was (a) to examine the variances in physical activity, AMD, and kinanthropometric and derived variables, as well as fitness levels, among adolescents with varying degrees of satisfaction regarding each of the BPNs and (b) to assess the differences in the study variables among adolescents based on whether the BPNs are satisfied individually or jointly. The sample consisted of 791 adolescents (404 males and 387 females; average age: 14.39 ± 1.26 years old). The findings indicated that adolescents in the highest percentiles (75-100) of competence, autonomy, or relatedness showed higher scores in physical activity and AMD and better kinanthropometric and physical fitness variables than adolescents in the lowest percentiles (0-25). Adolescents who showed joint satisfaction of all BPNs showed the best results on all variables analyzed. In addition, it should be noted that competence played the most relevant role.

The effects of adapted physical education sessions on the empathy of female students with overweight

The global prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity increases rapidly. Physical activity plays a major role in the prevention of obesity. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of adapted basketball sessions according to the empathic capacity of adolescent girls with overweight. Forty-two girls with overweight (age: 16.09 ± 0.85; years; height: 1.64 ± 0.67 m: weight: 73.02 ± 0.61 kg; BMI: 27.15 ± 1.37) volunteered to participate in the study and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG, n = 21) and control group (CG, n = 21). EG was submitted to a basketball intervention adapted to students with obesity while the CG performed classic basketball exercises for 7 weeks. Each week girls had 2 basketball teaching-learning sessions, lasting 50 min. The participants' empathy was assessed before and after the intervention using the Favre CEC. The results showed that adaptation intervention was associated with a significant emotional contagion decrease (Δ% = 0.466) and splitting with emotions (Δ% = 0.375), and with an empathy increase (Δ% = 1.387), in EG compared to CG. No significant difference was assessed in the empathy CG, before and after the intervention. This study demonstrated that adapted physical education classes could be an effective strategy to improve empathetic skills and inclusion of overweight girls as well as a means to prevent obesity.

Promoting Physical Activity and Health in the Workplace: A Qualitative Study among University Workers, Spain

The social changes we have been experiencing in recent years are generating anxiety that, together with sedentary lifestyles and poor health habits, are leading to premature ageing of society, in addition to the high rates of obesity and associated morbidity. In order to improve the lifestyles of the university community, the objective of this research project was the implementation of the UAL Activa programme based on physical activity. The beneficiaries were UAL staff from different sections, a total of 68 participants aged between 28 and 61 years (Mage = 49.36). Additionally, a total of 12 final year students of the degree in physical activity and sport sciences were responsible for designing and developing the exercise tasks. In-depth interviews were held with the participants of this project about the different benefits that their participation had brought them. The results obtained from the analysis with Nvivo v.10. showed five thematic blocks on the perceived improvements in physical fitness, physical condition, mood and emotional state, assessment of the new lifestyle, and social relations. In conclusion, the benefits of physical activity and the need to continue implementing action and intervention plans to encourage and promote its practice in all sectors of the population were highlighted.

Lifestyle Behaviours Profile of Spanish Adolescents Who Actively Commute to School

The aim of this study was to study different ‘healthy profiles’ through the impact of multiple lifestyle behaviours (sleep patterns, screen time and quality diet) on active commuting to school (ACS) in adolescents. Sixteen secondary schools from four Spanish cities were randomly selected. All participants filled in an “Ad-Hoc” questionnaire to measure their mode of commuting and distance from home to school and their lifestyle behaviours. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to analyse the main predictor variables of ACS. The final sample was 301 adolescents (50.2% girls; mean age ± SD: 14.9 ± 0.48 years). The percentage of ACS was 64.5%. Multiple logistic regressions showed: boys were more active commuters than girls [OR = 2.28 (CI 95%: 1.12−4.64); p = 0.02]; adolescents who lived farther had lower probability to ACS [OR = 0.74 (CI 95%: 0.69−0.80); p < 0.001]; adolescents who met sleep duration recommendations were more likely to ACS [OR = 3.05 (CI 95%: 1.07−8.69); p = 0.04], while with each hour of sleep, the odds of ACS was reduced [OR = 0.51 (CI 95%: 0.30−0.89); p = 0.02]; higher odds were shown to ACS in adolescents who have more adherence to MD [OR = 1.16(CI 95%: 1.00−1.33); p = 0.05]; and habitual breakfast consumption was inversely associated with ACS [OR = 0.41 (CI: 95%: 0.18−0.96); p = 0.04]. ACS was associated with being a boy, living at a shorter distance to school, a daily sleep time ≥ 8 h and presented a higher adherence to MD.

Is resilience learned through the frustration of the BPN? An empirical study about its role in the acquisition of positive lifestyles and academic outcomes framed in SDT

Based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this research shows once again the importance of the teaching role in fostering adaptive behaviors in students. As mediators of the model are the Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) and resilience. To date, although the inclusion of a fourth BPN, called novelty, had been proposed, it had not previously been used as part of the BPN measure of satisfaction or frustration. For its part, resilience had proven its relationship in isolation with the different constructs studied here, but had never been part of an explanatory model. The main objective of this study was to perform a structural equation model based on SDT to analyze the predictive capacity of the autonomy-supportive teaching style as a trigger of BPN frustration (including novelty), its relationship with resilience, and, finally, its relationship with adaptive outcomes such as intention to be physically active, maintain a healthy diet, and academic performance. A total of 2856 subjects participated (1514 boys and 1342 girls), with a mean age of 14.31 (SD = 1.91). Different SEM were tested, with the one that included novelty as the fourth BPN and resilience as a coadjutant construct of the explanatory model based on SDT offering better adjustment indexes. Fostering a climate supportive of autonomy will favor the satisfaction of the BPNs and therefore resilient behaviors in students, which are related to positive consequences such as those studied in this research.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03496-y.

Healthy and Balanced Nutrition for Children through Physical Education Classes

Introduction. In recent years, the rate of childhood obesity has been on the rise, currently standing at levels close to 20%. This means that one in five children is more likely to suffer from cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. Physical Education classes are therefore an ideal way to raise awareness among children and their families about healthy and balanced eating habits. Method. A total of 113 primary school students, aged 9-12 years, participated in the study. In order to analyze the data, a structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyze the influence between the variables. Results. The SEM results revealed that a controlling social context showed a negative prediction of psychological need satisfaction and a positive prediction of frustration. However, an autonomy supportive social context showed a negative prediction of psychological need satisfaction and a positive prediction of psychological need satisfaction. Frustration of psychological needs was negatively related to motivation, whereas satisfaction was positively related to motivation. In turn, motivation was positively related to each of the factors of the theory of planned behaviour. Finally, intention to follow a healthy diet was positively related to the Mediterranean diet. Discussion. These results revealed the importance of social context and physical education classes in the adoption of a balanced diet.

Impact of the Mass Media on Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity. Structural Equation Analysis

BACKGROUND

The influence of mass media on emotions, subjective well-being and behaviours in society should be clearly understood. Physical-health education has an important role to play as a preventive tool. The aim of this study was to develop an explanatory model regarding the relationships between mass media, psychological well-being, physical activity, Mediterranean diet and age and to compare the model with multi-group analysis according to gender.

METHODS

A descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used, with 634 participants between 18 and 66 years old (M = 35.18 ± 9.68).

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling was found to be satisfactory for all parameters. Results show that mass media have a significant direct influence on well-being, with negative effects on physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean diet. The model fitted better for males in terms of gender differences, showing a better fit of psychological well-being being associated with higher levels of physical activity and better adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Among women, no relationships were found between mass media pressure and psychological well-being and healthy physical habits, but higher personal satisfaction was associated with better physical activity and better dietary patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the study approaches society to a perspective influenced by mass media and physical-health education, reporting and emphasizing the importance of healthy lifestyles.