Concomitant associations of dietary behaviours and physical activity with body composition in adolescents

Development of adolescent obesity is associated with substantial health risks and comorbidities and thus represents a major public health concern. This study aimed to examine the associations between dietary behaviours and physical activity with body composition indicators among Slovak adolescents.

We used data from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2022 in Slovakia. The sample consisted of 1225 adolescents (mean age 13.3 ± 1.4; 53.9% boys). The HBSC questionnaire items were used to assess frequency of fruits, vegetables, sweets, soft and energy drinks, breakfast consumption during weekdays, having breakfast with family, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA). Body height (cm) was measured using a SECA 213 portable stadiometer, and body composition was assessed via bioimpedance analysis (InBody 230). Linear regression was used to test associations between dietary behaviours and physical activity variables and body composition outcomes.

More frequent breakfast eating during weekdays and more frequent sweets consumption were inversely associated with body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (PBF), visceral fat area (VFA) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Higher MVPA was inversely associated with BMI, PBF and VFA but positively associated with FFMI. Greater VPA was associated with PBF and VFA, but inversely associated with FFMI.

These findings suggest that more frequent breakfast consumption and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are associated with favourable body composition parameters in adolescents.