Analysis of sedentary behaviors, eating habits, and psychological well-being in Italian adolescents

Among Europe, Mediterranean countries have the highest number of adults with obesity or overweight. The percentage of obesity in the European region has increased by 21% in the last 10 years and by 138% since 1975. Adolescence (ages 5–19) represents a critical period of nutritional vulnerability, necessitating continuous monitoring and comprehensive strategies that integrate education, support, and active engagement. The aim of this study was to investigate the interdependencies between sedentary behaviors and physical activity, eating habits, and psychological well-being through the analysis of data extrapolated from DAB-Q and KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaires submitted to 57 high school students. Questionnaires’ scores have been analyzed using descriptive and regression analyses using R, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Results showed that males generally exhibited healthier eating habits, lower sedentary levels, and more stable psychological well-being compared to females, who showed greater variability in these factors. These findings suggest the need for tailored interventions that account for gender-specific patterns in lifestyle behaviors. Results also showed that adolescents with healthier eating behaviours choose healthy foods. The regression analysis revealed that sedentary behavior is a significant predictor of dietary habits, indicating that less sedentary individuals tend to adopt healthier eating behaviors. In contrast, psychological well-being showed no significant association with dietary habits. The regression model, while statistically significant, has limited explanatory power, suggesting that additional factors should be considered to better understand the determinants of dietary choices. The scatter plot further illustrated the lack of a clear relationship between psychological well-being and dietary habits, with high data dispersion and a wide confidence interval reinforcing the model’s uncertainty. Present data, overall, highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach in prevention interventions to take into account the different factors that contribute to and influence well-being and lifestyle in their entirety and complexity. Investing in prevention and promoting good practices to improve lifestyles, especially eating habits, is crucial for enhancing quality of life and reducing healthcare costs.