eprintid: 17856 rev_number: 9 eprint_status: archive userid: 2 dir: disk0/00/01/78/56 datestamp: 2025-09-25 23:30:06 lastmod: 2025-09-25 23:30:08 status_changed: 2025-09-25 23:30:06 type: article metadata_visibility: show creators_name: Rosi, Alice creators_name: Scazzina, Francesca creators_name: Touriz Bonifaz, Maria Antonieta creators_name: Giampieri, Francesca creators_name: Ammar, Achraf creators_name: Trabelsi, Khaled creators_name: Abdelkarim, Osama creators_name: Aly, Mohamed creators_name: Frias-Toral, Evelyn creators_name: Pons, Juancho creators_name: Vázquez-Araújo, Laura creators_name: Alemany Iturriaga, Josep creators_name: Monasta, Lorenzo creators_name: Decembrino, Nunzia creators_name: Mata, Ana creators_name: Chacón, Adrián creators_name: Busó, Pablo creators_name: Grosso, Giuseppe creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: francesca.giampieri@uneatlantico.es creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: josep.alemany@uneatlantico.es creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: creators_id: title: Children's and adolescents' lifestyle factors associated with physical activity in five Mediterranean countries: the DELICIOUS project ispublished: pub subjects: uneat_dp subjects: uneat_sn divisions: uneatlantico_produccion_cientifica divisions: uninimx_produccion_cientifica divisions: unic_produccion_cientifica full_text_status: public keywords: physical activity, lifestyle, children, adolescents, Mediterranean area abstract: Background: Physical activity in children and adolescents represents one of the most important lifestyle factors to determine current and future health. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the lifestyle and dietary factors linked to physical activity in younger populations across five countries in the Mediterranean region. Design: A total of 2,011 parents of children and adolescents (age range 6–17 years) participating to a preliminary survey of the DELICIOUS project were investigated to determine children's adequate physical activity level (identified using the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire) as well as diet quality parameters [measured as Youth-Healthy Eating Index (Y-HEI)] and eating and lifestyle factors (i.e., meal habits, sleep duration, screen time, etc.). Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between variables of interest. Results: Younger children of younger parents currently working had higher rates and probability to have adequate physical activity. Multivariate analysis showed that children and adolescents who had breakfast (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.56) and often ate with their family (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 0.90, 3.61) were more likely to have an adequate level of physical activity. Children and adolescents who reported a sleep duration (8–10 h) closest to the recommended one were significantly more likely to achieve adequate levels of physical activity (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.56). Conversely, those with more than 4 h of daily screen time were less likely to engage in adequate physical activity (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.10). Furthermore, children and adolescents in the highest tertile of YEHI scores showed a 60% greater likelihood of engaging in adequate physical activity (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.01). Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of promoting healthy diet and lifestyle habits, including structured and high quality shared meals, sufficient sleep, and screen time moderation, as key strategies to support active behaviors in younger populations. Future interventions should focus on reinforcing these behaviors through parental guidance and community-based initiatives to foster lifelong healthy habits. date: 2025-09 publication: Frontiers in Public Health volume: 13 id_number: doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1654645 refereed: TRUE issn: 2296-2565 official_url: http://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1654645 access: open language: en citation: Artículo Materias > Educación física y el deporte Materias > Alimentación Universidad Europea del Atlántico > Investigación > Artículos y libros Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana México > Investigación > Producción Científica Universidad Internacional do Cuanza > Investigación > Producción Científica Abierto Inglés Background: Physical activity in children and adolescents represents one of the most important lifestyle factors to determine current and future health. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the lifestyle and dietary factors linked to physical activity in younger populations across five countries in the Mediterranean region. Design: A total of 2,011 parents of children and adolescents (age range 6–17 years) participating to a preliminary survey of the DELICIOUS project were investigated to determine children's adequate physical activity level (identified using the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire) as well as diet quality parameters [measured as Youth-Healthy Eating Index (Y-HEI)] and eating and lifestyle factors (i.e., meal habits, sleep duration, screen time, etc.). Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between variables of interest. Results: Younger children of younger parents currently working had higher rates and probability to have adequate physical activity. Multivariate analysis showed that children and adolescents who had breakfast (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.56) and often ate with their family (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 0.90, 3.61) were more likely to have an adequate level of physical activity. Children and adolescents who reported a sleep duration (8–10 h) closest to the recommended one were significantly more likely to achieve adequate levels of physical activity (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.56). Conversely, those with more than 4 h of daily screen time were less likely to engage in adequate physical activity (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.10). Furthermore, children and adolescents in the highest tertile of YEHI scores showed a 60% greater likelihood of engaging in adequate physical activity (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.01). Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of promoting healthy diet and lifestyle habits, including structured and high quality shared meals, sufficient sleep, and screen time moderation, as key strategies to support active behaviors in younger populations. Future interventions should focus on reinforcing these behaviors through parental guidance and community-based initiatives to foster lifelong healthy habits. metadata Rosi, Alice; Scazzina, Francesca; Touriz Bonifaz, Maria Antonieta; Giampieri, Francesca; Ammar, Achraf; Trabelsi, Khaled; Abdelkarim, Osama; Aly, Mohamed; Frias-Toral, Evelyn; Pons, Juancho; Vázquez-Araújo, Laura; Alemany Iturriaga, Josep; Monasta, Lorenzo; Decembrino, Nunzia; Mata, Ana; Chacón, Adrián; Busó, Pablo y Grosso, Giuseppe mail SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, francesca.giampieri@uneatlantico.es, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, josep.alemany@uneatlantico.es, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR, SIN ESPECIFICAR (2025) Children's and adolescents' lifestyle factors associated with physical activity in five Mediterranean countries: the DELICIOUS project. Frontiers in Public Health, 13. ISSN 2296-2565 document_url: http://repositorio.uneatlantico.es/id/eprint/17856/1/fpubh-13-1654645.pdf