Relationship of physical activity and sedentarism with tobacco and alcohol consumption, and Mediterranean diet in Spanish teenagers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study examined the association of physical activity and sedentarism with tobacco and alcohol consumption, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in teenagers of both genders. METHODS A total number of 1897 Spanish teenagers (12-16 year-olds) took part in the present cross-sectional study. The variables were measured by means of questionnaires previously validated for these ages. RESULTS Physical activity was positively associated to the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet for both genders (ß = .144, P < .001 for boys and ß = .066, P< .05 for girls), and inversely associated to smoking for boys (ß = -.135, P = <.001). Sedentary behaviors for leisure purposes (TV and PC) were negatively associated to adherence to the Mediterranean diet for both boys (ß =-.100 and ß = -.104, both P < .05, respectively) and girls (ß= -.148 and ß = -.141, both P <.001), and positively associated to alcohol consumption for girls (ß = .114, P < .01 and ß = .199, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION results suggest that physical activity and sedentary behaviors have an important relationship with the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in teenagers. Also, higher levels of physical activity in boys can lead to reduced tobacco use, while watching TV and PC leisure can lead to increased alcohol consumption in girls.