Adolescents’ nutritional status and its association with physical fitness, physical activity attitudes, and sleep duration

Abstract

Introduction: The nutritional status of adolescents is a crucial determinant of their overall health and physical fitness. The study's primary aim was to determine the differences in physical fitness levels among adolescents with different nutritional statuses. The secondary aim was to explore the relationship between nutritional status and self-reported physical fitness, attitudes toward physical activity, and sleep duration. Materials and Methods: A total of 235 adolescents aged 16–17 were recruited in the study. The study employed the Zuchora Physical Fitness Index and a self-designed nine-item questionnaire.Results: Individuals with normal nutritional status showed higher levels of physical fitness (p<0.05) and reported better results in physical education at school (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the perceived value of physical activity in daily life, sleep duration, self-reported physical fitness, and opinion about the role of physical activity in someone’s daily life depending on nutritional status (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed in physical fitness depending on sleep duration, self-reported physical fitness, and opinions on physical activity in human life, but only for individuals with normal nutritional status (p<0.05). For individuals with underweight, physical fitness varied depending on self-reported physical fitness (p<0.05). A weak-to-moderate positive correlation was observed between the perceived value of physical activity and physical fitness (p<0.05).Conclusion: Keeping normal nutritional status is related to better physical fitness and school performance in physical education, irrespective of perceptions about the importance of physical activity or sleep duration.