Physical Education Classes as a Precursor to the Mediterranean Diet and the Practice of Physical Activity

Abstract

Physical activity and a healthy, balanced diet are remaining unresolved issues among young people. According to the World Health Organization, young people do not get enough exercise during the week, and physical education classes are the best way to promote healthy habits. This study aims to analyze how the role of the teacher influences the frustration of psychological needs, coping strategies, motivation, and the adoption of healthy eating habits through the Mediterranean diet and the regular practice of physical activity. The study involved 1031 boys and 910 girls between the ages of 13 and 18. To explain the relationships between the different variables included in this study, a model of structural equations has been developed. The results showed that autonomy support negatively predicted the frustration of four psychological needs. The failure to meet four psychological needs negatively predicted resilience. Likewise, resilience positively predicted autonomous motivation, and this positively predicted the Mediterranean diet and the practice of physical activity. Thus, the results obtained in the present study are in line with those of various studies wherein physical education classes were seen to help consolidate healthy living habits.

Impact of the Mass Media on Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity. Structural Equation Analysis

“…Accordingly, authors such as Hong and Kim [ 2 ] and Wearn and Shepherd [ 3 ] found that audiovisual media have a persuasive effect on emotions, psychosocial aspects such as subjective wellbeing and social–behavioural patterns. Likewise, the educational context should take on great importance in the early stages of life in order to establish healthy physical habits and the responsible use of new technologies, as this has been shown to benefit individuals’ physical and mental health and quality of life [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In fact, when a habit or lifestyle is acquired in the early stages of education, it will rarely be forgotten in adulthood [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Why Exercise at Work: Development of the Office Exercise Behavior Determinants Scale

“…This operating mode improved the efficiency of work, but also substantially reduced physical exercise and increased sedentary behaviors [ 1 , 4 ]. According to the WHO, 60% to 85% of people in the world live in sedentary lifestyles without sufficient physical exercise [ 5 ], making lack of physical activity one of the most serious health problems across different ages [ 6 ]. Beyond that, task-oriented working norms and high-pressured working environments have exacerbated office workers’ inactivity at work [ 7 ].…”

Environmental Influences on Dietary Intake of Children and Adolescents

“…In addition to the physical environment at secondary schools, the social environment is also very important. Trigueros and colleagues [34,35] showed that teaching style during Physical Education (PE) classes was associated with Portuguese adolescents' motivation, which, in turn, was related to their diet and physical activity. Their findings support the Self Determination Theory [36]: Satisfaction of the basic human psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) was crucial for the adolescent's motivation toward PE classes.…”

“…Students that were highly motivated consumed more healthy foods and less unhealthy foods and were more active. As such, Trigueros et al [34,35] provide us with insight into some of the cognitive factors that precede behavioral decisions regarding dietary intake and how the environment can support these cognitive processes. The results can therefore be used by interventions addressing PE classes and teaching styles.…”