Active and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Young Students: A Scoping Review.
Keywords:
physical activity, healthy eating, socioemotional well-being, students, schoolAbstract
Objective: To map and synthesize recent scientific evidence on the relationships between physical activity, dietary patterns, and overall well-being in school settings, identifying the main pedagogical strategies and implementation barriers. Methodology: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR recommendations. SciELO, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched, including articles published in Spanish and English that were conducted in school educational settings. The information was organized using a data-extraction matrix and synthesized descriptively and thematically. Results: The studies associated physical activity and healthy dietary patterns with better sleep, self-concept, and socioemotional well-being. School-based interventions primarily improved knowledge, whereas behavioral changes were limited in short-term programs. Multicomponent strategies showed greater potential, although they faced socioeconomic, institutional, and infrastructural barriers. Conclusion: Schools are strategic settings for promoting healthy lifestyles; however, they require comprehensive, sustained, and context-sensitive interventions, as well as research using rigorous designs and medium- and long-term follow-up.
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