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(1) Background: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) constitutes a public health problem given their high availability and easy accessibility among children and young people and their influence on the development of non-communicable diseases in the long term. In this context, culture and religion may be modulating factors for the consumption of processed food. The aim of this study is to assess the consumption of UPFs in Spanish schoolchildren living in Melilla (North Africa), together with the possible impact of religion on this. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study of 590 Christian and Muslim schoolchildren aged 15–17 years was conducted. The NOVA food classification was used to identify UPFs. Associations between religion and daily consumption were identified using risk analysis (Odds Ratio). (3) Results: Muslim schoolchildren had a higher consumption of industrial juices [OR = 2.700, 95%CI = 1.830–4.037], milkshakes [OR = 2.925, 95% = 1.850–4.748], industrial pastries [OR = 2.217, 95% = 1.440–3.510], sweets [OR = 2.197, 95%CI = 1.437–3.541], chocolates [OR = 2.272, 95%CI = 1.482–3.606] and savory snacks [OR = 3.431, 95%CI = 1.844–6.579] compared to that observed among Christians. (4) Conclusions: Both Muslim and Christian schoolchildren had a high consumption of UPFs. Regarding the potential impact of religion on the consumption of UPF, we observed that Muslim schoolchildren consumed three to four times more UPF than Christian schoolchildren. These results show a shift away from a healthy eating pattern, especially among Muslim schoolchildren. Thus, it is necessary to implement nutritional education strategies in order to understand and control the consumption of UPF in adolescents, thereby reducing the occurrence of non-communicable diseases in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: University students, often constrained by time and influenced by socio-economic factors such as culture and religion, frequently adopt diets centred on ultra-processed foods (UPFs), increasing the risk of long-term non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess UPF consumption among Spanish university students and explore the potential impact of religion and the academic year on their eating habits. (2) Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 257 university students aged 18–31, UPF consumption was assessed using NOVA food classification at the academic year's start and end. Chi-square and Wilcoxon tests analysed UPF consumption changes, while binary logistic regression identified associations between religion and weekly UPF consumption. (3) Results: Muslim students had a consumption of industrial bakery products almost five times [95% CI: 2.694–9.259] higher than that observed among Christians. Similar data were observed for artificial juice consumption (OR = 3.897, 95% CI = 2.291–6.627) and candy consumption (OR = 3.724, 95% CI = 2.051–6.762). Moreover, a greater percentage of calories and grams of saturated fats from UPFs was observed for Muslims at the end of the study. (4) Conclusions: Highlighting the impact of religion on UPF consumption among students underscores the necessity of monitoring and intervening in dietary habits to prevent undesirable long-term complications such as cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common drugs that are consumed by young people are alcohol and tobacco, which are especially prevalent in universities. These risk behaviours can be determined by a series of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by Spanish university students and the relationship between the Mediterranean diet, sexual attitudes and opinions, and chronotype. A multicentre observational study enrolled 457 students from two public universities in Spain. The study period was from December 2017 to January 2018. The majority of the participants consumed alcohol (90.2%), tobacco consumption was low (27.2%), with a high percentage of students (78.6%) having a low dependence on nicotine. The surveyed students demonstrated a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, which was shown to be associated with less risky alcohol consumption. The Mediterranean diet is a part of healthy lifestyle, and avoiding heavy drinking results in the intention to maintain such a lifestyle. In addition, unhealthy eating habits (skipping breakfast, eating sweets and pastries daily, and fast-food consumption) had a tendency to induce risky alcohol consumption. Therefore, to promote healthy lifestyle habits, it is considered important to establish programs that promote healthy diets in university settings and to evaluate them periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles are now gaining a foothold in the Western world. The aim of this research was to analyse the influence of physical education classes on a healthy diet (i.e., Mediterranean diet). To this end, psychological constructs derived from the theory of self-determination and the theory of planned behaviour were taken into account, such as the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs, motivation in physical education classes, and social cognition and intention. A total of 3415 secondary school students (13–19 years) participated in this study. A structural equation model was proposed that would explain the relationships between the variables mentioned above and the adherence to a Mediterranean diet. The results provide adequate fit indexes for the proposed model. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that a high satisfaction perceived in the physical education classes would help to reinforce the intention of having a healthy diet and therefore help to generate a perdurable commitment to this habit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocational training of students in diet habits and active lifestyle habits has recently become an important issue, given the health problems caused as a result of a poor diet. The objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of different training actions (traditional method and digital resources) carried out in a program of dietary habits and active lifestyle at the vocational training stage. A quasi-experimental design of the pre-post type was developed. A sample of 177 participants was chosen. The instrument to collect the data was the validated ECHAES questionnaire. The results show that all study groups demonstrated similar averages across all dimensions, except in the digital resource post-test design, where the averages were higher than the rest. There was a significant relationship between the traditional teaching method and the post-test digital resources design in all dimensions. There was also a significant relationship between the pre-test and post-test of the traditional teaching method and the digital resource group in the dimensions. It can be concluded that both the traditional and the innovative method lead to learning in the vocational training student, although the values achieved by the group where the innovative method was adopted were much higher than in the traditional group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to various WHO reports in 2018, a large number of adolescents worldwide are either overweight or obese. This situation is the result of not following a healthy and balanced diet, combined with a lack of practice of physical activity. In this sense, Physical Education classes could help to solve the problem. The present study seeks to analyze the relationship between the role of the teacher in relation to the structural dimensions of the PE teaching environment and the basic psychological needs and self-motivation of adolescents as determinants of their behaviors related to eating habits and the practice of physical activity. A total of 1127 secondary school adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 participated in this study. Questionnaires were used: Perceived Autonomy Support Scale, Psychologically Controlling Teaching Scale, Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education, Frustration of Psychological Needs in PE context, Physical Activity Class Satisfaction Questionnaire, Perceived Locus of Causality Revised, and WHO's Global school-based student health survey. A structural equations model was elaborated to explain the causal relationships between the variables. The results showed that autonomy support positively predicted the three structural dimensions of PE classes, while, in contrast, they were negatively predicted by psychological control. The three structural dimensions positively predicted the satisfaction of psychological needs and negatively predicted the thwarting of psychological needs. Self-determined motivation was positively predicted by the satisfaction of psychological needs and negatively predicted by the thwarting of psychological needs. Finally, self-determined motivation positively predicted healthy eating habits and the practice of physical activity and negatively predicted unhealthy eating habits. Certainly, the results obtained in this study support the postulates of the self-determination theory, demonstrating the predictability of PE class context towards the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, such as a proper diet and the regular practice of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]