Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study
The purpose of this study was to examine vegetable consumption and its relationship with lifestyle characteristics among children and adolescents. Data from a health survey administered to a representative sample of 177,091 schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 17 were employed in this observatio...
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2025-08-01
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| author | Konstantinos D. Tambalis Dimitris Tampalis Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos Labros S. Sidossis |
| author_facet | Konstantinos D. Tambalis Dimitris Tampalis Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos Labros S. Sidossis |
| author_sort | Konstantinos D. Tambalis |
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| description | The purpose of this study was to examine vegetable consumption and its relationship with lifestyle characteristics among children and adolescents. Data from a health survey administered to a representative sample of 177,091 schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 17 were employed in this observational, cross-sectional investigation. Physical activity level, screen time, and sleeping patterns were assessed using self-completed questionnaires. Vegetable consumption and dietary habits were analyzed using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents. Participants consuming vegetables more than once daily were categorized as consumers vs. non-consumers. Physical education teachers measured anthropometric and physical fitness factors. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted, and the odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval was calculated and adjusted for confounders. Vegetables were consumed once or more times a day by more females than males (25.5% vs. 24.0%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In both sexes, vegetable consumers slept more, ate healthier, spent less time on screens, and had better anthropometric and aerobic fitness measurements than non-consumers. Healthy eating practices, such as regularly consuming fruits, legumes, nuts, and dairy products, were strongly correlated with vegetable intake. For every one-year increase in age, the odds of being a vegetable consumer decreased by 8% and 10% in boys and girls, respectively. Overweight/obese participants had lower odds of being a vegetable consumer by 20%. Increased screen time, inadequate physical activity, and insufficient sleeping hours decreased the odds of being a vegetable consumer by 22%, 30%, and 25%, respectively (all <i>p</i>-values < 0.001). Overall, a healthier lifestyle profile was associated with higher vegetable intake for both sexes among children and adolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-63db257eb35b41d7b7ea2b6fc9feea0e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-63db257eb35b41d7b7ea2b6fc9feea0e2025-08-20T03:02:57ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-08-011515866510.3390/app15158665Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive StudyKonstantinos D. Tambalis0Dimitris Tampalis1Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos2Labros S. Sidossis3Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, GreeceDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science & Education, Harokopio University, 17676 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USAThe purpose of this study was to examine vegetable consumption and its relationship with lifestyle characteristics among children and adolescents. Data from a health survey administered to a representative sample of 177,091 schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 17 were employed in this observational, cross-sectional investigation. Physical activity level, screen time, and sleeping patterns were assessed using self-completed questionnaires. Vegetable consumption and dietary habits were analyzed using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents. Participants consuming vegetables more than once daily were categorized as consumers vs. non-consumers. Physical education teachers measured anthropometric and physical fitness factors. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted, and the odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval was calculated and adjusted for confounders. Vegetables were consumed once or more times a day by more females than males (25.5% vs. 24.0%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In both sexes, vegetable consumers slept more, ate healthier, spent less time on screens, and had better anthropometric and aerobic fitness measurements than non-consumers. Healthy eating practices, such as regularly consuming fruits, legumes, nuts, and dairy products, were strongly correlated with vegetable intake. For every one-year increase in age, the odds of being a vegetable consumer decreased by 8% and 10% in boys and girls, respectively. Overweight/obese participants had lower odds of being a vegetable consumer by 20%. Increased screen time, inadequate physical activity, and insufficient sleeping hours decreased the odds of being a vegetable consumer by 22%, 30%, and 25%, respectively (all <i>p</i>-values < 0.001). Overall, a healthier lifestyle profile was associated with higher vegetable intake for both sexes among children and adolescents.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8665vegetable intakedietary habitsschoolchildrenlifestyle factors |
| spellingShingle | Konstantinos D. Tambalis Dimitris Tampalis Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos Labros S. Sidossis Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study Applied Sciences vegetable intake dietary habits schoolchildren lifestyle factors |
| title | Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study |
| title_full | Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study |
| title_fullStr | Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study |
| title_short | Examining the Relationship Between Increased Vegetable Consumption and Lifestyle Characteristics Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study |
| title_sort | examining the relationship between increased vegetable consumption and lifestyle characteristics among school aged children a descriptive study |
| topic | vegetable intake dietary habits schoolchildren lifestyle factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8665 |
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