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Extracurricular Sports Participation and Sedentary Behavior in Association with Dietary Habits and Obesity Risk in Children and Adolescents and the Role of Family Structure: a Literature Review

  • Maternal and Childhood Nutrition (AC Wood, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Childhood obesity is considered a major problem in the modern world, associated with many health issues in youth. This review aimed the association between extracurricular sports participation, sedentary time/screen time, and “obesogenic” and “non-obesogenic” dietary habits among youth and to explore the role of family structure on the adoption of sedentary behaviors by children.

Recent Findings

Increased participation in extracurricular sports was associated with a healthier dietary pattern, containing more “non-obesogenic” food choices. Opposite results were indicated by sedentary activities. Increased time in watching TV, computer/electronic games, and other screen devices was positively associated with unhealthy dietary patterns.

Summary

Overall, extracurricular activities influence the quality of food choices, which may prevent or promote childhood obesity; thus, sport-related activities should be promoted through public health policies. The role of the family structure is contradictory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 70 Eleftheriou Venizelou (Thiseos) Ave, Kallithea, 176 71, Athens, Greece

    Aikaterini Kanellopoulou, Dimitrios V. Diamantis & Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

  2. Department of Public and Community Health, Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

    Venetia Notara

  3. Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT, Canberra, Australia

    Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

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Kanellopoulou, A., Diamantis, D.V., Notara, V. et al. Extracurricular Sports Participation and Sedentary Behavior in Association with Dietary Habits and Obesity Risk in Children and Adolescents and the Role of Family Structure: a Literature Review. Curr Nutr Rep 10, 1–11 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-021-00352-6

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