Health literacy, a more complex concept than knowledge, is a required capacity to obtain, understand, integrate and act on health information [1], in order to enhance individual and community health, which is defined by different levels, according to the autonomy and personal capacitation in decision making [2]. Medium levels of Health literacy in an adolescent population were found in a study conducted in 2013/2014, being higher in sexual and reproductive health and lower in substance use. It was also noticed that the higher levels of health literacy were in the area adolescents refer to have receipt more health information. The health literacy competence with higher scores was communication skills, and the lower scores were in the capacity to analyze factors that influence health. Higher levels were also found in younger teenagers, but in a higher school level, confirming the importance of health education in these age and development stage. Adolescents seek more information in health professionals and parents, being friends more valued as a source information in older adolescents, which enhance the importance of peer education mainly in older adolescents [3]. As a set of competences based on knowledge, health literacy should be developed through education interventions, encompassing the cultural and social context of individuals, since the society, culture and education system where the individual is inserted can define the way the development and enforcement of the health literacy competences [4]. The valued sources of information should be taken into account, as well as needs of information in some topics referred by adolescents in an efficient health education. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness which has a profound effect on the health and well-being related with the well-known nature of psychotic symptoms. The exercise has the potential to improve the life of people with schizophrenia improving physical health and alleviating psychiatric symptoms. However, most people with schizophrenia remains sedentary and lack of access to exercise programs are barriers to achieve health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise on I) the type of intervention in mental health, II) in salivary levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol and serum levels of S100B and BDNF, and on III) the quality of life and selfperception of the physical domain of people with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 31 females in long-term institutions in the Casa de Saúde Rainha Santa Isabel, with age between 25 and 63, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Physical fitness was assessed by the six-minute walk distance test (6MWD). Biological variables were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Psychological variables were assessed using SF-36, PSPP-SCV, RSES and SWLS tests. Walking exercise has a positive impact on physical fitness (6MWD -p = 0.001) and physical components of the psychological test...

The main objective of this study was the validation of the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire (EVS II), using a confirmatory factorial analysis of the measurement model, with veteran athletes. A total of 348 veteran Portuguese athletes of both genders, aged between 30 and 60 years (M = 41.64, SD = 9.83), of whom 200 were males and 148 were females, from several sports. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrate the adequacy of the adapted version of the EVS II, as the factorial structure (6 factors/24 items) has acceptable validity indexes: χ2 = 305.925, p = 0.000, df = 120.017, χ2/df = 2.549, NFI (Normed Fit Index) = 0.909, TLI (Tucker Lewis Index) = 0.918, CFI (Comparative Fit Index) = 0.944, GFI (Goodness of Fit Index) = 0.944, AGFI (Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index) = 0.909, SRMR (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual) = 0.048, RMSEA (Root Mean Square of Approximation) = 0.060, allowing evaluation of the dimensions of balanced diet, respect for mealtime, tobacco and alcohol consumption, other drugs consumption and resting habits. The adaptation to sport of the Portuguese version of EVS II can be used with reasonable confidence in the evaluation of healthy lifestyles in the context of sport.

The present study was aimed to relate physical activity in the formation of self-concept, self-esteem and school performance in children of basic education. We had a sample of 531 students of the municipalities of Santarém, Torres Novas, Entroncamento and Tomar (Portugal), of which 295 students (55.6%) for males and 236 students (44.4%) than females, with a mean age of the sample of 9.13 years, ranging from a minimum of 8 years and a maximum of 10 years. From this sample, 394 students (74%) have the practice of physical activity at least one formal character extracurricular and 137 students (26%) of the total sample reported no physical activity. As an instrument of data collection used the concept of the Self Susan Harter validated for the Portuguese population (Martins, Peixoto, Mata & Monteiro, 1995), where we analysed descriptive and inferential data in order to confront levels average self-concept in the areas of scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, behaviour, and global selfesteem. Were also recorded income school students study the subject areas of Mathematics, English and Sciences Studies. The practice of regular physical activity not decisively proved a significant factor in the level of self-concept, self-esteem and academic performance of students. However, the variable self seems to assume an evolution with increasing number of sessions per week of physical activity, as apparently the practice of at least one sport elevates levels of self-esteem. Students with the highest number of weekly hours of physical activity regularly reveal a level of academic achievement significantly higher, compared to students with less hours without registration or practice regular physical activity weekly.

Martins, J., Torres, B., Cardoso, J., Costa, A.M., & Honório, S. (2015). Influence of sociological aspects on the level of physical activity in physical education students. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 10(3), pp.815-826. Adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle for adolescent students, seems to be impaired and influenced by several factors, among them stand out environmental, psychological and social factors. Thus, the general objectives of this study were submitted to study and understand the extent to which these environmental, social and personal factors help and influence the level of physical activity (PA) by the adolescents in school age. More specifically, we will study: (1) the possible association between level of physical activity, age and gender; (2) consider and determine whether there is an association between socioeconomic variables and physical activity level of the population sample; (3) assess on the possible association between environmental variables and perceived physical activity of the adolescents. The sample consisted of 286 high school students, male gender (n = 125) and female (n = 161) aged between 15 and 18 years of age. As an instrument of study, a questionnaire was used. The main results of this study demonstrate a possible relationship between gender and level of PA, while boys tend to be more active than girls and also an association between socioeconomic variables and level of physical activity.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of ten-week multicomponent training with different exercise frequencies on body composition (BC) and physical fitness (PF) in overweight and obese young children. Methods: 40 children, aged 12-15 (14.77±1.49), were randomly selected and assigned to experimental groups to train three times/week (EG1) or two times/week (EG2) for 10 weeks and a CG group (no training program). Results: It was shown that experimental groups (EG1 and EG2) improved similarly aerobic capacity (3.8% and 3.5%, respectively), muscular strength (29.7% and 25.2%), flexibility (6.1% and 9.9%), body mass index (5.0% and 4.6%), and body fat (6.4% and 5.6%) from pre-to post-training. CG group showed no significant improvements on BC and PF variables. Conclusion: Short-term multicomponent training seems to be effective on PF improvements, independently of the exercise frequency, in overweight and obese young children. However, it seems to be more effective to perform a multicomponent exercise training three times/week to improve muscular strength, body mass index, and decrease body fat percentage. This knowledge should be considered by professionals in physical education or youth sport in order to adapt practical tasks depending on the training purposes.