Relationship among levels of knowledge, healthy eating habits, and physical activity in schools

Authors

  • Judith Martínez-Royert Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Sara Concepcion Maury Mena Corporación Universitaria Americana, Colombia
  • María Cristina Pájaro-Martínez Universidad de Granada, España.
  • Sheyla Sierra Cohen Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Ruth Peña Martínez Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.03.501.366

Keywords:

knowledge, healthy habits, physical activity, healthy eating, school

Abstract

Introduction: During school age, children consistently experience changes as part of their developmental process. Additionally, this is a period in which dietary preferences, habits, and a gradual adjustment to the adult diet are consolidated. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between knowledge levels and healthy eating and physical activity habits in schoolchildren.

Materials and methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational study. The sample was selected non-probabilistically, including 223 fourth- and fifth-grade students from a school in Barranquilla (Colombia). Participants, aged between 8 and 12 years, were chosen with their voluntary consent and parental authorization. Those who did not meet age, enrollment, or authorization criteria were excluded. Two instruments were used for data collection: The Questionnaire on Knowledge of Healthy Eating, Personal Hygiene, and Physical Activity, applying only the dimensions of Healthy Eating (HE) and Physical Activity (PA), and the Questionnaire on Lifestyle, Eating, and Physical Activity Habits for Schoolchildren Aged 8 to 12 Years.

Results: No correlation was found between the knowledge level and Healthy Eating habits (p = 0.258) and Physical Activity habits (p = 0.870), confirming the null hypothesis.

Conclusions: The results revealed that the schoolchildren had low knowledge levels regarding healthy eating and physical activity.

 

Author Biographies

Judith Martínez-Royert, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

Ph.D. en Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad del Atlántico (Colombia). Magíster en Educación, Universidad del Norte (Colombia). Investigador, Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia). judith.martinez@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4468-8578 

Sara Concepcion Maury Mena, Corporación Universitaria Americana, Colombia

Ph.D. en Ciencias de la Educación, URBE (Venezuela). Magíster en Métodos de Investigación en Educación, UNIR (España). Docente-investigador, Corporación Universitaria Americana (Colombia). Saramaury66@yahoo.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1181-6377.

María Cristina Pájaro-Martínez, Universidad de Granada, España.

Psicóloga, Universidad de Granada, España. Estudiante del Máster General Sanitario en la Universidad de Granada, España.  Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9463-5036 . mariacristinap@correo.ugr.es  

Sheyla Sierra Cohen, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

Estudiante de Enfermería, Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia). Sheyla.cohen@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7159-2345

Ruth Peña Martínez, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

Estudiante de Enfermería, Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia). Ruth.pena@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6184-4601

Published

2025-08-26

How to Cite

Martínez-Royert, J. ., Maury Mena, S. C. ., Pájaro-Martínez, M. C. ., Sierra Cohen, S. ., & Peña Martínez, R. . (2025). Relationship among levels of knowledge, healthy eating habits, and physical activity in schools. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 41(3), 863–878. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.03.501.366

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Most read articles by the same author(s)