Int J Adolesc Med Health 2015; 27(1): 101–104
Short Communication Katharina Diehl* and Jennifer Hilger
Nutrition and physical activity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood: further research is warranted Abstract: The transition from adolescence to adulthood is associated with many physical, social, and psychological changes. In addition, adolescents also have to deal with structural changes. An example of one such structural change is the transition from school to university or to other vocational establishments. Structural changes can also entail changes in overall framework conditions and daily life patterns and thus also in dietary habits and physical activity levels. The aim of the present paper was to draw attention to the research deficit in this area with the help of the results of our analyses. The results show that significant changes take place as a consequence of the transition from school to a vocational establishment. However, our analyses could not identify the exact catalysts and the time framework of these changes. In this respect, further research is urgently warranted. Keywords: adolescence; nutrition; physical activity. DOI 10.1515/ijamh-2014-0010 Received February 18, 2014; accepted April 17, 2014; previously published online May 24, 2014
Introduction During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, young people have to deal with a number of psychological, physical, and social changes (1). The last hurdle to
*Corresponding author: Katharina Diehl, Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Ludolf-Krehl-Strasse 7-11, 68167 Mannheim, Germany, Phone: +49-621-3839602, Fax: +49-621-3839920, E-mail: [email protected] Jennifer Hilger: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
take during this transition process is to become independent from parents. When adolescents are still at school, they spend a lot of time with their families and many also continue to live at home during their vocational training after middle school or secondary modern school. However, for many young people the step into university or work life means moving out of home. Owing to this transition, adolescents are faced with a change in their everyday framework conditions that can considerably change their way of life, for instance, dietary behavior and physical activity. This means that these changes could also have determining effects on their health in later life because lifestyle factors, such as a balanced diet and physical activity, are one of the main chronic disease prevention factors (2). Some previous studies have already indicated that changing schools, for example, from primary to secondary school or the transition from school to university (and thus the transition to an independent life), entails important changes in the way we eat and are physically active (3, 4). As one no longer eats with the family but is instead in charge of shopping for oneself, it is possible that one adopts new and different dietary habits. Also, for example, owing to having moved to another city, it is sometimes no longer possible to go to a sports club at home. Alternative possibilities to keep up one’s physical activity need to be pursued. But it is also possible that owing to new circumstances, one is lacking the time to adhere to a balanced diet and sufficient physical activity levels. However, the development of an increased health consciousness despite or maybe even because of changes in everyday life conditions is also possible. In such a case, this would probably lead to increased physical activity levels and the adoption of a more balanced and healthy diet. A detailed literature search revealed that previous research neglected this important transition process and its consequences on lifestyle habits. For this reason, the present paper compiles two data sets in order to compare
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102 Diehl and Hilger: Nutrition and physical activity in the transition from adolescence to adulthood dietary habits and physical activity levels of adolescents (14–17 years of age) and young adults (18–24 years of age). As Germany has a special schooling system that differs considerably from that of other countries, to date there is no data set available that comprises both adolescents, who still go to school, and young adults.
Materials and methods We used data from two German studies: the KiGGS study [German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents; age group 14–17 years; n = 3737; data collection: 2003–2006; (5)] and the GEDA study [German Health Update; age group 18–24 years; n = 2380; data collection: 2009–2010; (6)], both conducted by the Robert Koch Institute. To make the self-reported data comparable, we recoded in both data sets the response categories for the consumption of fruit and vegetables, which can be seen as an indicator for a healthy diet, into “Daily”, “At least once a week”, “Less than once a week”, and “Never”. The same was done for physical activity by recoding the response categories into “6–7 days per week”, “3–5 days per week”, “1–2 days per week”, and “Never”. We calculated χ2 tests to compare both age groups using SPSS 21 (IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). The predefined level of significance was p
Short Communication Katharina Diehl* and Jennifer Hilger
Nutrition and physical activity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood: further research is warranted Abstract: The transition from adolescence to adulthood is associated with many physical, social, and psychological changes. In addition, adolescents also have to deal with structural changes. An example of one such structural change is the transition from school to university or to other vocational establishments. Structural changes can also entail changes in overall framework conditions and daily life patterns and thus also in dietary habits and physical activity levels. The aim of the present paper was to draw attention to the research deficit in this area with the help of the results of our analyses. The results show that significant changes take place as a consequence of the transition from school to a vocational establishment. However, our analyses could not identify the exact catalysts and the time framework of these changes. In this respect, further research is urgently warranted. Keywords: adolescence; nutrition; physical activity. DOI 10.1515/ijamh-2014-0010 Received February 18, 2014; accepted April 17, 2014; previously published online May 24, 2014
Introduction During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, young people have to deal with a number of psychological, physical, and social changes (1). The last hurdle to
*Corresponding author: Katharina Diehl, Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Ludolf-Krehl-Strasse 7-11, 68167 Mannheim, Germany, Phone: +49-621-3839602, Fax: +49-621-3839920, E-mail: [email protected] Jennifer Hilger: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
take during this transition process is to become independent from parents. When adolescents are still at school, they spend a lot of time with their families and many also continue to live at home during their vocational training after middle school or secondary modern school. However, for many young people the step into university or work life means moving out of home. Owing to this transition, adolescents are faced with a change in their everyday framework conditions that can considerably change their way of life, for instance, dietary behavior and physical activity. This means that these changes could also have determining effects on their health in later life because lifestyle factors, such as a balanced diet and physical activity, are one of the main chronic disease prevention factors (2). Some previous studies have already indicated that changing schools, for example, from primary to secondary school or the transition from school to university (and thus the transition to an independent life), entails important changes in the way we eat and are physically active (3, 4). As one no longer eats with the family but is instead in charge of shopping for oneself, it is possible that one adopts new and different dietary habits. Also, for example, owing to having moved to another city, it is sometimes no longer possible to go to a sports club at home. Alternative possibilities to keep up one’s physical activity need to be pursued. But it is also possible that owing to new circumstances, one is lacking the time to adhere to a balanced diet and sufficient physical activity levels. However, the development of an increased health consciousness despite or maybe even because of changes in everyday life conditions is also possible. In such a case, this would probably lead to increased physical activity levels and the adoption of a more balanced and healthy diet. A detailed literature search revealed that previous research neglected this important transition process and its consequences on lifestyle habits. For this reason, the present paper compiles two data sets in order to compare
Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/23/15 7:11 PM
102 Diehl and Hilger: Nutrition and physical activity in the transition from adolescence to adulthood dietary habits and physical activity levels of adolescents (14–17 years of age) and young adults (18–24 years of age). As Germany has a special schooling system that differs considerably from that of other countries, to date there is no data set available that comprises both adolescents, who still go to school, and young adults.
Materials and methods We used data from two German studies: the KiGGS study [German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents; age group 14–17 years; n = 3737; data collection: 2003–2006; (5)] and the GEDA study [German Health Update; age group 18–24 years; n = 2380; data collection: 2009–2010; (6)], both conducted by the Robert Koch Institute. To make the self-reported data comparable, we recoded in both data sets the response categories for the consumption of fruit and vegetables, which can be seen as an indicator for a healthy diet, into “Daily”, “At least once a week”, “Less than once a week”, and “Never”. The same was done for physical activity by recoding the response categories into “6–7 days per week”, “3–5 days per week”, “1–2 days per week”, and “Never”. We calculated χ2 tests to compare both age groups using SPSS 21 (IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). The predefined level of significance was p
