Eating habits and physical activity among high school students in northwestern Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v69.115262Keywords:
Adolescents, eating behavior, healthy lifestyle, health education, educational interventionAbstract
Introduction: Healthy eating and physical activity within an educational context are essential for the prevention of diseases.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Learning Unit focused on eating habits and physical activity implemented among high school students from urban and rural areas in northwestern Mexico.
Methodology: A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention measurements was used in a sample of 1,407 adolescents. The Questionnaire on Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Physical Activity (CHVSAAF per its initials in Spanish) was applied. As a secondary objective, the psycho-metric properties of the instrument were analyzed due to the lack of previous evidence in this population.
Results: The instrument showed adequate fit indices (Chi²/df = 0.7; RMSEA = .05; CFI = .93; NFI = .92; IFI = .93) and acceptable reliability (α = .765). Comparative analyses revealed statistically significant differences (p < .01).
Discussion: Significant differences were found between pre- and post-intervention measurements in healthy eating, unhealthy eating, and physical activity. These changes varied according to sex and area of residence (urban or rural). Positive and negative correlations were observed among the evaluated factors following the integrated intervention within physical education classes.
Conclusions: The results support the utility of the CHVSAAF questionnaire as an assessment tool and highlight the importance of incorporating structured educational strategies into the school curriculum to promote healthy lifestyle habits among adolescents.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Daniel Eduardo Calderón Hernández, Perla Lizeth Hernández Cortés, Luis Enrique Bañuelos Terés, Luis Tomas Rodenas Cuenca, Oswaldo Ceballos Gurrola
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