Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with dietary behaviors among midadolescent female students in the southeast of Iran

Abstract

Given the complexity of dietary behaviors and physical activity of adolescents and its relationship to the chronic diseases later on, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the physical activity and sedentary behaviors with dietary behaviors of female high school students in the southeast of Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in four public high schools in the southeast of Iran (Zahedan) on a sample of 457 female students of Tenth Grade. Information collected using a self-reported 38-item questionnaire with the content validity ratio (CVR) of 0.79, the content validity index (CVI) of 0.88 and the reliability (alpha) of 0.70. The data were analyzed by SPSS15 Software by linear and logistic regression models. Physical activity and socio-economic class of students were predictors of their healthy dietary behavior. Students who had spent much time in sedentary behaviors were more likely to consume fast foods. It is recommended to implement some combined interventions including training, consultation and environmental supports in schools along with the focus on family intervention so as to strengthen and lengthen the effects of interventions.