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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Nutrients

Associations Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Diet Type/Kind of Diet, and Body Weight Status Among Austrian Secondary School Pupils

  • Clemens Drenowatz1
  • Felix Polyudov2
  • Werner Kirschner3
  • Gerold Wirnitzer4
  • Manuel Schätzer5
  • Gerhard Ruedl3
  • Katharina C. Wirnitzer3,6,7,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1Division of Sport, Physical Activity and Health, University of Education Upper Austria, 4020 Linz, Austria
  2. 2Department of Primary Education, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  3. 3Department of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  4. 4RockITLime, 6135 Stans, Austria
  5. 5SIPCAN—Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition, 5061 Elsbethen, Austria
  6. 6Department of Secondary Education, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  7. 7Working Group Prevention, Integrative Medicine and Health Promotion, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Otto-Heubner Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (OHC), Charité—University of Medicine Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
  8. 8Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM), Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Overweight and obesity present major public health challenges during adolescence. This study aimed to examine the independent associations of leisure-time physical activity (exercise frequency and club sports participation) and kinds of diet with body mass index (BMI) percentiles and weight status among Austrian secondary school pupils. Methods: Data were drawn from the nationwide cross-sectional From Science 2 School study. A total of 8799 pupils aged 9–22 years (63.1% female) completed an online survey capturing sociodemographic factors, exercise frequency, club sports participation, and kind of diet (omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan). Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment for post hoc tests as well as multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 11.8% of the participants were classified as overweight or obese and 82% reported regular leisure-time exercise. Engaging in leisure-time exercise on ≥4 days per week was associated with a 48% lower likelihood of overweight/obesity, with the strongest protective effect observed among 10–12-year-olds. Additionally, a vegetarian diet was associated with lower BMI percentiles (p < 0.01) and a 41% reduced risk of overweight/obesity, with effects being particularly prominent in girls. Conclusions: High-frequency leisure-time exercise and plant-based diet types are independently associated with more favorable body weight outcomes in adolescents. Integrated school-based prevention approaches addressing both physical activity and plant-centered nutrition may offer optimal synergies for obesity prevention.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{drenowatz2026associations,
  title = {{Associations Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Diet Type/Kind of Diet, and Body Weight Status Among Austrian Secondary School Pupils}},
  author = {Clemens Drenowatz and Felix Polyudov and Werner Kirschner and Gerold Wirnitzer and Manuel Schätzer and Gerhard Ruedl and Katharina C. Wirnitzer},
  journal = {Nutrients},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/nu18213614},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3614},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Associations Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Diet Type/Kind of Diet, and Body Weight Status Among Austrian Secondary School Pupils
AU  - Clemens Drenowatz
AU  - Felix Polyudov
AU  - Werner Kirschner
AU  - Gerold Wirnitzer
AU  - Manuel Schätzer
AU  - Gerhard Ruedl
AU  - Katharina C. Wirnitzer
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Nutrients
DO  - 10.3390/nu18213614
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3614
AB  - Background/Objectives: Overweight and obesity present major public health challenges during adolescence. This study aimed to examine the independent associations of leisure-time physical activity (exercise frequency and club sports participation) and kinds of diet with body mass index (BMI) percentiles and weight status among Austrian secondary school pupils. Methods: Data were drawn from the nationwide cross-sectional From Science 2 School study. A total of 8799 pupils aged 9–22 years (63.1% female) completed an online survey capturing sociodemographic factors, exercise frequency, club sports participation, and kind of diet (omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan). Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment for post hoc tests as well as multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 11.8% of the participants were classified as overweight or obese and 82% reported regular leisure-time exercise. Engaging in leisure-time exercise on ≥4 days per week was associated with a 48% lower likelihood of overweight/obesity, with the strongest protective effect observed among 10–12-year-olds. Additionally, a vegetarian diet was associated with lower BMI percentiles (p < 0.01) and a 41% reduced risk of overweight/obesity, with effects being particularly prominent in girls. Conclusions: High-frequency leisure-time exercise and plant-based diet types are independently associated with more favorable body weight outcomes in adolescents. Integrated school-based prevention approaches addressing both physical activity and plant-centered nutrition may offer optimal synergies for obesity prevention.
SN  - 2072-6643
ER  -