Abstract

SAUCEDO-MOLINA, Teresita de Jesús et al. Relationship between body mass index, physical activity and meal times in mexican adolescents. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2015, vol.32, n.3, pp.1082-1090. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.32.3.9331.

Objectives: 1) to describe the distribution of the body mass index (BMI), physical activity levels and meal times' frequency and; 2) to assess its relationships in a sample of high school Mexican adolescents. Methods: a total of 1028 adolescents (41.1% males and 58.9% females) aged 15-19 years (M= 16.12; SD= 0.9) were included in the final analysis. BMI was calculated using the CDC-2000 as reference. Meal times were evaluated by one factor of the RFAEDP questionnaire (Risk Factors Associated to Eating Disorders in Pubescents). Physical activity was measured trough short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Pearson's correlations were used to determine relationship between the variables. Results: overweight and obesity prevalence together reached, 29.2% for females and 29.3% in males. In meal times' factor, undernourished and low weight subjects achieved the highest values in the answer option always. In total sample, according to the physical activity, 31.9% reported low level. Meal times showed significant association with BMI (r= -0.142, p < 0.01) and physical activity level (r= 0.125, p < 0.01). Discussion: important problems of malnutrition, meal times' frequency and inactivity were identified in the sample. From these findings, the need to design and implement programs with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles among adolescent arises.

Keywords : Adolescents; Body mass index; Meal times; Physical activity.

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