(P02-099-25) Young Adolescents Engaged in Physical Activity and Sports Have Healthier Dietary Patterns Than Their Inactive Peers

Objectives: Worldwide, unhealthy diets in children and adolescents are a significant concern. Combined with inadequate physical activity levels, they predispose to adverse health outcomes.

The study explored associations between sports participation or physical activity and dietary patterns in early adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 2020 students aged 10–15 was conducted in middle schools in Albania's capital, Tirana. The participants completed a questionnaire regarding their dietary habits and extracurricular physical activity levels. Binary logistic regression analysed the relationship between sports/physical activity and eating behaviours, including daily breakfast consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, eating in front of screens, and consumption of takeaway food, sweets, and sugary drinks.

Results: 1684 participants (83.4%) were engaged in physical activity, and 1343 (66.5%) were engaged in sports.

Boys have greater odds of being physically active OR = 4.24, 95% CI: 3.24-5.55, P < 0,0001; and participating in sports, OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 2.14-3.13, P < 0.0001 than girls.

Participants engaged in sports have higher odds of consuming three or more portions of fruits and vegetables per day (OR =1.64, 95% CI: 1.24 – 2.17, P = 0.0005), a lower risk of taking takeaway food (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58-1.00, p = 0.05), and consuming food in front of screens (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47-0.93, p = 0.02) compared to those who did not do any type of sport.

Students involved in extracurricular physical activities were more likely to consume three or more portions of fruits and vegetables daily (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07–2.08, p = 0.01) and had a lower risk of eating while watching screens (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.38–0.88, p = 0.01) compared to those with no additional physical activity.

Participants engaged in sports and physical activity were also more likely to eat breakfast regularly and consume fewer sweets or sweetened beverages, though these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Early adolescents who participate in extracurricular physical activities and sports tend to have healthier dietary patterns than their inactive peers. Encouraging sports participation and physical activity during this stage of life can positively influence dietary habits and promote psychological and physical well-being.

Funding Sources: No funding to report