An Observational Study Assessing the Association between Physical Activity & and Dietary Habits among Adolescents

AbstractAim: The current study aimed to focus specifically on objectively assessed physical activity & and dietaryhabits among adolescents.Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Community Medicine at DMCH, Darbhanga,Bihar, India for one year and cross-sectional data were collected. Data were obtained from adolescents (12–16years) recruited from three secondary schools in Bihar. Staff at participating schools selected a subset of theirclasses for participation. All students from nominated classes (n = 200) were eligible and received writteninformation on the project. Consent was sought from parents prior to the study and adolescent participantsprovided assent before completing written surveys during class.Results: A higher proportion of boys, compared to girls, ate breakfast on more than 5 days/week (p < 0.01). Ahigher proportion of younger adolescents, com- pared to older adolescents, met the physical activityrecommendations and did not meet the recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption (p < 0.01). Foradolescents with two risk behaviours, the most prevalent cluster was formed by not meeting the physical activityand fruit and vegetables recommendations. A higher proportion of girls, compared to boys, had the clusterpattern of not meeting the recommendations for physical activity and breakfast consumption. (p < 0.01). Ahigher proportion of boys, compared to girls, and older adolescents, compared to younger adolescents, had themost prevalent single risk factor of not meeting the recommendations for physical activity (p < 0.01). A higherproportion of younger adolescents, com- pared to older adolescents, had the single risk factor of not meeting therecommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Many adolescents fail to meet multiple diet and physical activity recommendations, highlightingthat physical activity and dietary behaviours do not occur in isolation. Future research should investigate howbest to achieve multiple health behaviour change in adolescent boys and girls