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Background and objectives: This study examined the association of physical activity and sedentarism with tobacco and alcohol consumption, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in teenagers of both genders. Methods: A total number of 1897 Spanish teenagers (12-16 year-olds) took part in the present cross-sectional study. The variables were measured by means of questionnaires previously validated for these ages. Results: Physical activity was positively associated to the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet for both genders (β = .144, P < .001 for boys and β = .066, P < .05 for girls), and inversely associated to smoking for boys (β = -.135, P = < .001). Sedentary behaviors for leisure purposes (TV and PC) were negatively associated to adherence to the Mediterranean diet for both boys (β = -.100 and β = -.104, both P < .05, respectively) and girls (β = -.148 and β = -.141, both P < .001), and positively associated to alcohol consumption for girls (β = .114, P < .01 and β = .199, P < .001, respectively). Conclusion: results suggest that physical activity and sedentary behaviors have an important relationship with the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in teenagers. Also, higher levels of physical activity in boys can lead to reduced tobacco use, while watching TV and PC leisure can lead to increased alcohol consumption in girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthier diet models. Mediterranean food patterns are suffering a deterioration that can especially affect children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: Determine adherence to the Mediterranean diet in adolescents of southern Spain and its relationship with the residence area, sex, age, life satisfaction, anthropometry, and habits of physical activity and sedentary activities. METHODOLOGY: A total of 1973 adolescents (11-18 years) of southern Spain participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Cut-off value between rural and urban locations was 10000 inhabitants. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was calculated from the KIDMED questionnaire. Life satisfaction, physical activity, and sedentary activities also were measured through valid and reliable questionnaires. Body mass index and % body fat were measured using the TANITA BC-420-S body analyzer. RESULTS: 30.9% of the adolescents reported an optimal quality diet, percent higher in rural locations (P < 0.05). Adherence was lower in older adolescents (P < 0.001), it was not different between sexes or according to anthropometric variables. Adolescents more satisfied with their lives (P < 0.001), more active (P < 0.001), more studious (P < 0.001), and less sedentary in front of a screen (P < 0.001) showed greater adherence to the Mediterranean food pattern. CONCLUSION: The majority of adolescents need to improve their nutritional quality. Compared with these subjects, the adolescents most adherent to the Mediterranean diet had a healthier lifestyle and they showed greater life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción y objetivos: examinar la asociación del apoyo de los padres y de los amigos con diferentes intensidades de actividad física durante el tiempo libre de adolescentes españoles de ambos sexos.Métodos: un total 352 adolescentes españoles (51.70% chicos; 12-16 años) cumplimentaron el International Physical Activity Questionnarie for Adolescents y un cuestionario validado sobre apoyo social. Se realizaron análisis de regresión linear ajustados por edad.Resultados: el apoyo social de padres y amigos influyó positivamente sobre los niveles de actividad física vigorosa que los adolescentes españoles realizan durante su tiempo libre (β=.226 y β=.285 en chicos y β=.167 y β=.181 en chicas, para el apoyo de padres y amigos respectivamente) y sobre los de intensidad moderada en el caso de las chicas (β=.195 y β=.200, respectivamente).Conclusiones: el apoyo de padres y amigos contribuye a los niveles de actividad física moderada o vigorosa en adolescentes españoles.