Objective: The aim of this research was to study the mediation of body dissatisfaction, physical self-concept, and body mass index (BMI) on the relationship between physical activity and self-concept in adolescents. Materials and Methods: A sample of 652 Spanish students between 12 and 17 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Physical self-concept and general self-concept were assessed with the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (CAF), body dissatisfaction with the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and physical activity was estimated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). BMI was utilized as a measurement of body composition. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the results. Results: The resulting models showed good fit indexes. Final model for all participants explained the 17% of the variance of body dissatisfaction, 57% of physical self-concept, and 60% of general self-concept. Physical activity had a positive and indirect effect on self-concept ( β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and direct effects on body dissatisfaction ( β = −0.26, p < 0.01) and physical self-concept ( β = 0.20, p < 0.01). BMI had a direct effect on body dissatisfaction ( β = 0.31, p < 0.01) and on physical self-concept ( β = −0.10, p < 0.01) and an indirect effect on general self-concept ( β = −0.24, p < 0.01). However, it was only associated with physical activity in males, playing a mediating role between physical activity and body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Physical activity can help individuals to achieve a positive self-concept and promote psychological well-being in adolescents through the improvement of physical perceptions and body satisfaction. The importance of BMI, body dissatisfaction, and physical self-concept on the configuration of the self-concept is also emphasized. Educational policymakers and Physical Education teachers should implement strategies to promote physical activity in the schools and provide a Quality Physical Education programs to increase physical activity during adolescence.

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in body dissatisfaction (BD) of male and female adolescents by body max index (BMI) and the quantity, type and organisation of physical activity (PA). To do so, 652 adolescents aged 12–17 years participated in a cross-sectional study. The cognitive-affective component of BD was assessed with the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the perceptual component with Gardner’s scale for the assessment of, body image (BI). PA was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) and the item 1 from the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). The results show that sex and BMI are key variables when determining BD. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was moderately associated with a greater body satisfaction in males but no association was found between BD and the participation and organisation of PA. Moreover, the results suggest that participants in aesthetic/lean PA are at a higher risk of suffering from BD than participants in other PA types. These findings provide useful information for the design of programmes promoting healthy lifestyles, weight control and BI concern during the school period.

School physical activity breaks are currently being proposed as a way to improve students’ learning. However, there is no clear evidence of the effects of active school breaks on academic-related cognitive outcomes. The present systematic review with meta-analysis scrutinized and synthesized the literature related to the effects of active breaks on students’ attention. On January 12th, 2021, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched for published interventions with counterbalanced cross-over or parallel-groups designs with a control group, including school-based active breaks, objective attentional outcomes, and healthy students of any age. Studies’ results were qualitatively synthesized, and meta-analyses were performed if at least three study groups provided pre-post data for the same measure. Results showed some positive acute and chronic effects of active breaks on attentional outcomes (i.e., accuracy, concentration, inhibition, and sustained attention), especially on selective attention. However, most of the results were not significant. The small number of included studies and their heterogeneous design are the primary limitations of the present study. Although the results do not clearly point out the positive effects of active breaks, they do not compromise students’ attention. The key roles of intensity and the leader of the active break are discussed. INPLASY registration number: 202110054.

Los descansos activos en entornos educativos se presentan como una propuesta para lograr un aumento de la actividad física diaria que acerque a los más jóvenes a las recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (2010). Más allá de los conocidos beneficios de la actividad física en la salud y el bienestar de niños y adolescentes, en numerosas ocasiones también se han observado beneficios a nivel cognitivo. Por ello, el objetivo del presente estudio fue conocer la influencia que tiene un período de descansos activos en la atención y concentración de niños de Educación Primaria. Para ello, participaron un total de 73 niños de entre 9 y 11 años, de los cuales 29 pertenecían al género masculino y 44 al femenino. Se llevó a cabo un programa de descansos activos en horario escolar compuesto de 10 sesiones. Los resultados del estudio muestran un incremento en la atención y concentración de los niños tras la implementación del programa. Estos resultados sugieren que 15 minutos diarios de actividad física cognitivamente involucrada podrían ayudan a mejorar considerablemente la cognición de los niños, lo cual podría beneficiar a su rendimiento académico. Por tanto, se recomienda incluir los descansos activos como actividad rutinaria en los centros educativos.

Physical fitness plays an important role as an indicator of physical health. It is also associated with psychological well-being by showing positive relationships between its components and self-esteem in children and adolescents. However, while the musculoskeletal fitness shows clearer associations, this is not the case of cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition. This study aimed to determine the relationships between the different components of the physical fitness and self-esteem in a sample of 377 students from 9 to 13 years in Albacete. Physical fitness was measured by the 20m shuttle run, broad jump test and handgrip strength. Waist circumference and body mass index were used as body composition measures. Self-esteem was evaluated with the Multimedia and Multilingual Questionnaire for Self-Esteem Assessment, attending to its academic, athletic, socio-affective and global domains. Results showed significant positive associations of 20m shuttle run and broad jump test with global self-esteem and most of the dimensions. There were also significant correlations between body composition measures and athletic and global selfesteem. These results allow for guiding those interventions aimed at increasing self-esteem in school age and incorporating the improvement of physical fitness.