Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Are eating habits associated with physical fitness in primary school children?
David Thivel1, Thivel David, Julien Aucouturier
1Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, EA3533, Blaise Pascal University, Clermont University, France. David.Thivel@univ-bpclermont.fr
Objective:
Children's eating habits have mainly been related to anthropometric characteristics but less is known about their association with physical fitness.
Methods:
278 French school children (131 boys and 147 girls) filled in eating habit questionnaires and completed anthropometric measurement (weight, height, skinfolds) and physical fitness tests. The 20-m Shuttle run test and the Squat Jump test were used to assess aerobic fitness and anaerobic (lower limb muscle power) fitness respectively.
Results:
Breakfast consumption was associated with both aerobic fitness (p<0.05) and lower limb muscle power (p<0.01) while snacking was negatively related to Squat Jump performances (p<0.05). There was no association between physical fitness and either the type of the consumed-beverages or TV watching during dinner and lunch meals. Cumulated unhealthy eating habits was negatively associated with CRF stages and lower limb muscle power performances (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
French primary school children physical fitness is associated with their eating habits and decreases with the number of unhealthy eating behaviors cumulated.
Related Concept Videos
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Self-Schemas
Bulimia Nervosa
Nature and Nurture
Signs of Puberty
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:

