OBJECTIVE: To identify dietary and physical activity factors associated to the nutritional status of adolescent students. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 105 adolescents of both genders, aged 10 to 14 years, studying at public schools in Piedade, São Paulo, Brazil. Data regarding food intake (24 hour recall), physical activity patterns (physical and sedentary activities) and nutritional status measured by body mass index were collected. The adolescents were characterized as insufficiently active if physical activities were practiced for less than 300 minutes per week. They were considered sedentary if they spent two hours or more per day in passive activities. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated to the nutritional status. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was higher among boys (17.9 versus 13.6%, p<0.05) and 18.0% of the adolescents were considered insufficiently active. There was no association between dietary and nutritional status variables. A significant difference was observed only for the time spent playing videogames (p=0.005), that was higher among eutrophic adolescents. Seven in ten adolescents spent more than two hours a day on sedentary activities (watching television, using the computer and playing videogames). In multiple regression analysis, only age was positively associated with the BMI (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective investigations are necessary to establish clearer relationships among factors related to lifestyle and body mass index among adolescents.
adolescent; motor activity; food consumption; nutritional status
