Leisure-time organised physical activity and dietary intake among Swedish adolescents

• Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between participation in leisure-time organised physical activity (LTOPA) and dietary intake in a large representative sample of Swedish adolescents. Methods: The study was based on the national dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-2017 and involved a sample of 2807 (n=1234 boys) participants aged 11-12, 14-15, and 17-18 years. Information about LTOPA and dietary intake were collected through a web questionnaire and a web based 24-hour recall method (RiksmatenFlex), respectively. For dietary intake, the following six variables were analysed: overall healthy eating index (SHEIA15) and energy-adjusted intake (g/10 MJ) of fruits, vegetables, candy, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and the proportion of added sugar to total energy intake (E%). Significance testing for associations between participation in LTOPA and dietary intake was performed with analysis of covariance (adjusted for parental education). Effect-sizes were reported as partial eta squared and interpreted as small (0.01), moderate (0.06), and large (0.14). Results: A total of 1886 boys and girls participated in LTOPA. The result showed that LTOPA was associated with lower SSB intake among adolescent boys and girls, higher fruit intake among boys, and lower vegetable intake among girls. The effect-sizes were small. However, LTOPA was unrelated with overall healthy eating index, candy intake, and the proportion of added sugar to total energy intake among both boys and girls. When further analysing dietary intake by weekly frequency of participation in LTOPA, including those who did not participate, few significant differences were observed. Conclusions: The study shows that LTOPA is associated with some healthy eating behaviours but there are room for improvements. Places where adolescents participate in LTOPA is therefore one important setting to promote healthy dietary habits among adolescents.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)