title: Diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and perceptions of the environment in young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have explored both food behaviour and physical activity in an environmental context. Most research in this area has focused on adults; the aim of the present study was to describe perceptions of the environment, diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns in 16-20 year olds in full-time education (Newcastle, UK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 73) recruited from a college and sixth-form college completed a UK version of the Youth Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey, which included measures of sedentary behaviour. A validated food frequency questionnaire was completed and a factor applied to produce an estimated mean daily frequency of intake of each item, which was converted to nutrient intakes. A rank for Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) was assigned to their home postcode. Analysis explored associations between sedentary behaviours and nutrient intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this descriptive cross-sectional study, most participants reported being physically active for at least 1 h day(-1) on 3-4 (n = 28) or 5-7 days (n = 31). There were no significant differences in nutrient intake according to sample quartile IMD position. Sedentary behaviours were significantly associated with less healthy eating patterns. Higher total energy (P = 0.02), higher fat (P = 0.005), percentage energy from fat (P = 0.035) and lower carbohydrate intakes (P = 0.004) were significantly associated with more time spent watching DVDs at the weekend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combination of sedentary behaviour and less healthy eating patterns has important implications for long-term health (e.g. the tracking of being overweight and obesity from adolescence into adulthood). Understanding behaviour relationships is an important step in developing interventions in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, IHS, Medical School, HNRC Newcastle University, Leech Building, Framlington Place, UK. amelia.lake@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Townshend
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvanides
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stamp
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Adamson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012146:Rest; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats