La escala de afluencia familiar en la investigación sobre inequidades sociales en salud en adolescentes latinoamericanos

Physical Activity, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Body Dissatisfaction in Physical Education of Extremadura Adolescents: An Exploratory Study

In recent years, physical activity levels among youths have declined significantly. This has led to a decline in adherence to physical activity recommendations. In this sense, physical education offers an ideal environment that contributes positively to improving adherence to physical activity recommendations, as it teaches students movement-related skills and knowledge. The objective of the present research was to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels, body composition, fitness in Physical Education, and body dissatisfaction levels, and to analyse sex differences in relation to the study variables. The sample was formed of 1166 participants from the 1st and 2nd secondary compulsory education, of which 642 were boys (age 13.16 ± 0.91), and 524 girls (age 13.08 ± 0.85). The measure of physical activity was the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). Body composition was assessed using weight and height to calculate their body mass index. Cardiorespiratory capacity was assessed using the Course-Navette test in Physical Education lessons. The results showed the relationship between physical activity and body mass index, cardiorespiratory capacity, and body satisfaction. It was also confirmed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a lower body mass index, improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower levels of body dissatisfaction to a greater extent in boys than in girls. The study concludes that improvements in the study variables were associated with increased physical activity. In addition, it seems necessary to promote healthy lifestyles in physical education lessons, especially during adolescence, as they could serve as a gateway for the improvement of health-related fitness in future generations. Increasing the amount of physical activity among young people is vital. Therefore, it would be essential to develop intervention programs in physical education classes, especially during adolescence, aimed at promoting and increasing physical activity and its benefits.

Intervention Programme Based on Self-Determination Theory to Promote Extracurricular Physical Activity through Physical Education in Primary School: A Study Protocol

Low levels of physical activity (PA) are a concern among students, producing negative physical, health and mental consequences. This study aims to present a protocol intervention in physical education (PE) based on self-determination theory (SDT) to enhance students’ motivation towards performing PA and increasing their PA levels in their leisure time. This protocol is a convenience study with two allocation arms (intervention group versus control group). SDT-based motivational strategies will be carried out and co-created with PE teachers to increase motivation and out-of-school PA levels. Data collection will be conducted three times: before the intervention, after the intervention (four months after baseline) and at the end of the intervention (retention measurement, seven months after baseline). The measures will assess perceived teacher support for PA, motivation towards PA, intention to be physically active, PA levels, engagement in PE and academic performance. Overall, this intervention programme is expected to increase students’ autonomous motivation for PA and their PA levels in their free time. This intervention might encourage teachers to establish strategies and resources to increase their students’ adaptive outcomes.

First tobacco product tried and current use of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes among adolescents from Guatemala City

OBJECTIVE

To assess how first experimenting with ciga-rettes or e-cigarettes is associated with current use in Gua-temala, a middle-income country with weak tobacco control and no e-cigarette regulations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We surveyed students from private schools in Guatemala City, limiting analyses to ever users (n=1 026). Multinomial logistic models regressed current product use on first product used, adjusting for sociodemographics and friends and family use.

RESULTS

The most common first product used was e-cigarettes (56%), followed by flavored cigarettes (24%) and regular cigarettes (20%). At the time of the survey, 4% were exclusive smokers, 37% were exclusive e-cigarette users, 18% dual users, and 40% had ever tried either but were not current users. Compared to those who first tried cigarettes, students who first tried e-cigarettes were less likely to be current smokers (RR=0.19 [CI: 0.11,0.31]) or dual users (RR=0.26 [CI: 0.14,0.49]) and students who first tried flavored cigarettes were more likely to be current smokers (RR=1.66 [CI=1.13,2.42]).

CONCLUSIONS

In our sample, Guatemalan adolescents from private schools more frequently experiment and continue to use e-cigarettes than cigarettes. There is urgent need to implement e-cigarette restrictions in addition to tobacco control policy implementation.