PURPOSE: To analyze physical activity and dietary patterns of adolescents and young adults attending evening classes in high schools at two socioeconomic and culturally contrasting Cities in Brazil: Recife (in northern Brazil) and Florianopolis (in southern Brazil). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis (baseline data) of a school-based randomized trial (the Saude na Boa project), including 2,147 students (15-24 years of age; 55.7% females) from 10 schools in each city, pair-matched by size and location. Data were collected by questionnaire. RESULTS: Males were more active than females (p<0.001) in all three physical activity measures in the questionnaire: days/wk of 60+min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) - males 3.8 d/wk (s=2.3), females 3.2 d/wk (s=2.4); walk/bike to school - males 4.5 d/wk (s=2.4), females 4.1 d/wk (s=2.4); and, strength exercises - males 2.3 d/wk (s=2.5), females 0.8 d/wk (s=1.7). The prevalence of physical inactivity (zero d/wk of 60+ min MVPA) was significantly higher in Recife (p<0.001). Consumption of fruits was significantly higher in Recife than in Florianopolis (p<0.001), but no differences were observed for vegetable (p=0.28) and soda consumption (p=0.09). In general, one out of five students (21.7%) consumed fruits and vegetables <5 d/wk. CONCLUSIONS: Students attending evening classes (public high schools) in Recife tend to be older but are less likely be employed than their counterparts in Florianopolis. Participation in physical education classes was much more prevalent in Florianopolis (87.6% x 19.4% in Recife), especially for females. The prevalence of less than optimal eating habits and insufficient levels of physical activity justify the efforts to promote healthier behaviors in this transitional phase in life.
Results provided an improved understanding of the effects of university-based instructional PA courses and how they might be leveraged to improve students' mental health and possibly contribute to their academic success.
This investigation ascertained effects of exposing high school students to classroom health-related fitness instruction involving a curriculum focused on the relationship of exercise to cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, flexibility, strength (particularly as it relates to abdominal and lower-back muscoskeletal function), and muscular endurance. The curriculum included lectures, labs, and readings as part of the physical education course work. Ninety ninth and 10th grade students were assigned randomly to one of three physical education classes, which met daily for one, 12-week semester. Each class received the same skill-related instruction; however, the two experimental classes, in lieu of skill activities, were exposed to classroom instruction and readings dealing with health fitness topics on a one or two day per week basis. The third class of students, the control group, was engaged strictly in skill activities daily. Students exposed to health-related fitness classroom instruction displayed significantly more positive attitudes toward physical activity and a better understanding of health-related fitness than students who did not receive such information.
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