Unhealthy eating habits and participation in organized leisure-time activities in Czech adolescents

Abstract

A healthy lifestyle habits in adolescents consist of healthy eating patterns and active ways of spending leisure time. This study aimed to examine the relationship between organized leisure-time activities (OLTA) and eating habits in adolescence. Data from the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study on 10,494 Czech adolescents aged 11–15 years was used. The associations of participation in OLTA with ten specific eating habits were analyzed using logistic regression. Involvement in any type of OLTA was associated with higher consumption of daily breakfast, fruit, and vegetables and a lower intake of soft drinks. Participants in non-sport and sport and other activity reported lower rates of unhealthy eating habits (e.g., lower rates of eating crisps and eating in front of the TV or computer). Participation only in sport was related to more frequent eating at fast food restaurants but less frequent snacking in front of the computer and intake of crisps. Conclusion: Participation in OLTA was associated with healthier eating habits (e.g., consumption of fruit and vegetables) and a lower occurrence of unhealthy eating habits (e.g., consumption of soft drinks). Alternatively, our findings indicate that non-participation in OLTA can serve as an indicator of an unhealthy lifestyle in adolescence.What is Known• Unhealthy eating habits in youth tend to persist into adulthood and are related to adverse health consequences later in life.• The type of the leisure-time activity (participation in sport, non-sport, sport, and other activities) affects the strength of developmental outcomes in adolescents.What is New• Youth participating in non-sport activity and sport and other activity concurrently reported lower rates of unhealthy eating habits (e.g., eating junk food, eating in front of the TV/computer).• Non-participation in OLTA could be viewed as a potential risk factor for an unhealthy lifestyle in adolescents.