Physical inactivity, sedentary habits and eating habits among Moroccan adolescents

¹ Laboratory of Environment and Renewable Energies, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, P. O. Box 14000, Kenitra, Morocco.
² Laboratory of Biology and Health - Ibn Tofail University, B.P. 133, P. O. Box 14000, Kenitra, Morocco.
³ Hassan First University, Settat, Morocco.
⁴ Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland.

^* Corresponding author: hamid.eloirdi@uit.ac.ma

Abstract

In Morocco, noncommunicable diseases were responsible for 80% of all deaths in 2016. These risk factors are closely related to diet and physical activity. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and eating habits among a sample of Moroccan adolescents aged 14 to 19 years.This is a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 669 (285 boys and 384 girls) recruited during the year 2019 in the Province of Sidi Kacem-Morocco. Data on sedentary behaviors, physical activity and eating habits were collected using a validated questionnaire. Overall, 38% of Moroccan adolescents did not meet the recommended duration of one hour of moderate-intensity physical activity, boys are generally more active than girls (p<0.00), and 36% of adolescents reported watching TV for more than 2 hours/day and 42% used a computer for a similar period. Girls are more sedentary than boys (p=0.005). For eating habits, there were significantly more boys than girls who met the recommended scores for healthier foods, but there were significantly more girls than boys who exceeded the score of three days of intake per week for unhealthiest foods. The prevalence of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits appear to be moderately high, but physical and nutritional education programs are needed to promote an active living and a healthy eating.