FITeens Toolkit

15 Why is it important to promote health-related behaviours in young people? There is ample scientific evidence that healthy behaviours such as regular physical activity, especially, moderate-vigorous intensity, optimal sleep duration and quality, and healthy eating are independently associated with a wide range of physical (adiposity, metabolic markers, physical fitness, bone health, etc.), psychological/social (improved quality of life, well-being, reduced stress, depression, anxiety, etc.) and cognitive (improved cognitive functioning, higher academic performance, etc.) benefits . On the contrary, risk behaviours such as physical inactivity, excessive and prolonged sedentary time (especially linked to recreational screen time), short or excessive sleep duration, unhealthy diet through the intake of ultra- processed products or sugary drinks, as well as tobacco and alcohol consumption are associated with negative health consequences . Moreover, in different systematic reviews, it has been observed that adopting a greater number of healthy behaviours, or avoiding certain risk behaviours, can maximise academic, health and economic benefits. However, as will be seen below, a large percentage of young people do not adopt a healthy lifestyle, especially during adolescence. Since some studies have shown that there is a transfer between healthy and risky behaviours adopted in childhood and/or adolescence and the consolidation of these behaviours in adulthood, it seems essential to promote these behaviours from the earliest stages. Due to this interrelatedness, schools seem to be ideal places to promote healthy behaviours among young people.