A composite measure of healthy lifestyle: A study from 38 countries and regions from Europe and North America, from the Health Behavior in School‐Aged Children survey
Adilson Marques, Joana Bordado, Riki Tesler, Yolanda Demetriou, David J. Sturm, Margarida Gaspar de Matos
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to create a composite measure of a healthy lifestyle for adolescents, and analyze its relationship to sociodemographic factors. METHODS: Data were from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children 2014 International survey. Participants were 167 021 adolescents (48.2% boys and 51.8 girls), aged 10-16 years, from 38 countries. RESULTS: Five healthy behaviors used in this study included engaging in ≥60 minutes of physical activity every day, daily consumption of fruit and vegetables, spending <2 hours daily immersed in screen-based behaviors, and abstinence from alcohol as well as from tobacco products. Only 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4%, 2.3%) of adolescents had a healthy lifestyle, achieving all five healthy behaviors. In contrast, 4.2% (95% CI: 3.7%, 4.6%) reported none of the healthy behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the benefits of engaging in physical activity, engaging in low levels of screen-based activity, regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, and abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes, only 2% of adolescents could be classified as having a healthy lifestyle.