Excess weight and its association with dietary habits, sleep quality, and physical activity among adolescents from a public school in Peru

Abstract

Excess weight among adolescents in Latin America has reached alarming levels, with Peru above global averages. Yet what drives this trend in vulnerable school settings remains poorly studied. This study evaluated the association between dietary habits, sleep quality, and physical activity with excess weight among adolescents from a public school in Peru. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 193 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years enrolled in secondary education. Three validated instruments assessed the study variables. Excess weight was determined by BMI-for-age; Chi-square and Cramer’s V were applied. Overall, 67.36% of adolescents had excess weight, with higher prevalence in females (74.74%) than males (60.20%; p=0.031). Dietary habits were significantly associated with excess weight (p=0.034), but in an unexpected direction: those without excess weight showed more unhealthy habits (76.19%) than those with excess weight (60.77%). No significant associations were found with sleep quality (p=0.666) or physical activity (p=0.897). The prevalence of excess weight (67.36%) far exceeded national figures, pointing to a serious vulnerability in this school setting. The unexpected direction of the dietary habits association raises important questions about what drives excess weight in vulnerable settings, reinforcing the need for comprehensive preventive programs.