title: Relationship between self-reported dietary intake and physical activity levels among adolescents: the HELENA study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests possible synergetic effects of multiple lifestyle behaviors on health risks like obesity and other health outcomes. Therefore it is important to investigate associations between dietary and physical activity behavior, the two most important lifestyle behaviors influencing our energy balance and body composition. The objective of the present study is to describe the relationship between energy, nutrient and food intake and the physical activity level among a large group of European adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised a total of 2176 adolescents (46.2% male) from ten European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using validated 24-h dietary recalls and self-reported questionnaires respectively. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the energy and nutrient intake and the food consumption between groups of adolescents with different physical activity levels (1st to 3rd tertile).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both sexes no differences were found in energy intake between the levels of physical activity. The most active males showed a higher intake of polysaccharides, protein, water and vitamin C and a lower intake of saccharides compared to less active males. Females with the highest physical activity level consumed more polysaccharides compared to their least active peers. Male and female adolescents with the highest physical activity levels, consumed more fruit and milk products and less cheese compared to the least active adolescents. The most active males showed higher intakes of vegetables and meat, fish, eggs, meat substitutes and vegetarian products compared to the least active ones. The least active males reported the highest consumption of grain products and potatoes. Within the female group, significantly lower intakes of bread and cereal products and spreads were found for those reporting to spend most time in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The consumption of foods from the remaining food groups, did not differ between the physical activity levels in both sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that dietary habits diverge between adolescents with different self-reported physical activity levels. For some food groups a difference in intake could be found, which were reflected in differences in some nutrient intakes. It can also be concluded that physically active adolescents are not always inclined to eat healthier diets than their less active peers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. charlene.ottevaere@ugent.be
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ottevaere
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Béghin
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuenca-Garcia
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagströmer
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Donne
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005060:Europe; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics