The continuous changes in our society require adapted training that encompasses both technical and competency knowledge. There is a high level of demand, especially in areas such as engineering, which can affect the mental health of students, producing high levels of stress and psychological distress, hindering self-efficacy and academic performance. Embodied learning working on self-awareness, stress reduction and self-knowledge can help to generate healthier environments. Creative therapies can be a tool to promote the prevention of health problems in this group of the population. In particular, Dance Movement Therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving health in clinical and non-clinical settings. In this work, a body awareness program based on Dance Movement Therapy is developed and implemented in engineering students. Through a mixed pre-post methodology, its impact is evaluated and analyzed in an experimental group of engineering students. Psychometric tests, physiological variables and reflective diaries are used as data sources. The results show that the experimental group, compared with the control group, increased their levels of body awareness and connectedness, well-being and life satisfaction and reduced their stress levels. The results were supported by cortisol measures. Likewise, the students acknowledged having increased their levels of self-awareness and self-knowledge and considered the inclusion of these bodily approaches in higher education to be necessary.

Objective: To compare cardiovascular risk and cardiorespiratory capacity in schoolchildren from a region in the extreme south of Chile according to nutritional status and muscular strength. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 594 schoolchildren from 5th to 8th grade in the extreme south of Chile. Based on body mass index and lower limb muscle strength, participants were divided into four groups: high strength-normal weight, high strength-overweight/obese, low strength-normal weight, and low strength-overweight/obese. Then, waist-to-height ratio and cardiorespiratory capacity, measured with the 20 m shuttle run test, were assessed to determine their cardiovascular risk, comparing the four groups. Results: The overweight/obese group with high muscular strength presented better indicators in anthropometric variables (waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio) than their peers with low muscular strength. Additionally, the overweight/obese group with low muscular strength presented a lower cardiorespiratory capacity than their peers with high muscular strength. Both results were observed in boys and girls. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that overweight/obese schoolchildren with high muscle strength present healthier anthropometric indicators and greater cardiorespiratory capacity than their peers with low muscle strength. These results confirm the relevance of measuring muscle strength in schoolchildren and its usefulness to assess functionality. These results encourage the scientific community to continue studying the role that muscle strength plays in modulating the effects of overweight and obesity on respiratory and cardiovascular conditions in childhood.

Objective: To analyze the perception of physical fitness, screen time, and self-reported sleep hygiene in children and adolescents (CA) from the extreme south of Chile and its associations with waist-to-height ratio (WtHr). Material and methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 594 schoolchildren from 5th to 8th grade of primary education, belonging to municipal educational establishments in the Magallanes region, Chile. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed through the 20-m shuttle run test, muscle strength through handgrip and the standing broad jump test, physical fitness perception through the International Fitness Scale, and central obesity through the waist-to-height index. In addition, sleep hygiene and screen time were measured. Results: More than 92% of CA spent more than two hours a day watching or using screens. In addition, CA with excess central adiposity had a lower perception of physical fitness, and lower muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to CA with normal values of adiposity. Conclusions: CA of the present study spent a high number of hours watching or using screens and had poor sleep quality. In addition, excessive central adiposity was associated with lower physical fitness.

University life is a critical period for acquiring and consolidating healthy habits. This study examined the influence of sex on the body image perception, attitude toward food, nutritional status, and lifestyle habits of university students. This descriptive observational study included 163 university students from a program of Health Sciences. The data were collected with digitally distributed, self-administered questionnaires. Instruments such as the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to measure physical activity, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 to assess attitudes toward food, the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire and Gardner’s assessment for body image perception, and the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Body composition was evaluated with an InBody 770 device. Most of the values found were within the appropriate range and not significant in practice, except in the Gardner test for women, where relevant values were found. Female participants demonstrated greater dissatisfaction with their body image and higher EAT-26 scores, indicating an increased risk for eating disorders. Male participants exhibited higher body mass index and physical activity levels. No significant differences were observed in adherence to the Mediterranean diet between the sexes. Correlations between the variables revealed that body dissatisfaction was associated with a higher percentage of body fat and visceral fat area in both sexes. Gender differences in body image perception and attitude toward food underscore the need for sex-specific interventions. Promoting a positive body image perception and healthy eating habits is essential for improving the physical and mental health of university students. Educational programs should consider these differences and emphasize the promotion of physical activity and adherence to balanced diets.

Background and Objectives: Although there is strong evidence of the positive effects of physical exercise on health, adherence to face-to-face exercise programs in the adult population is low, identifying several barriers that hinder their practice. There is research that demonstrates the viability of physical exercise programs with the use of Mobile Health in Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) mode, which contributes to overcoming many reported barriers. To synthesize the methodological characteristics and health effects of physical exercise programs based on mobile health in EMA modality in adults in developing countries. Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to guidelines established by the PRISMA statement in APA PsycArticles and CINAHL databases by EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science for articles published between 2008 and March 2024. Results: Telephone counseling on clinical–behavioral factors is believed to reduce morbidity and mortality in developed countries, but this aspect is not explored in developing countries. We included nine randomized controlled trials with a total of 4394 male and female participants aged 18 to 60 years. The interventions were mainly carried out by text messages, lasting between 20 to 80 min per session, 3 to 5 days per week, and most were carried out over 12 months. The interventions on the variables of physical activity, nutrition, and medical assessments showed significant effects, and variables such as quality of life and anthropometric measurements were not significant in most studies. Conclusions: This systematic review included studies from different developing countries, the most common diseases being diabetes, overweight, obesity, and hypertension. All the studies used mobile devices as the technology, finding a profile of the adults studied, as well as the characteristics of exercise programs based on mobile health in EMA modality.

Objective: This study sought to examine the correlation between physical activity levels and various psychological and nutritional factors associated with the risk of developing eating disorders among female university students in the Health Sciences discipline. Method: The study assessed body image, self-esteem, nutritional status, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and attitudes toward food in a sample of 96 women, categorized into two groups based on their level of physical activity. Results: Significant differences in skeletal muscle mass were identified between the groups, alongside associations between body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and elevated EAT-26 scores. Furthermore, students with higher levels of physical activity exhibited a significantly increased prevalence of eating disorder risk. Logistic regression analysis identified body dissatisfaction as a significant predictor of eating disorder risk, while membership in the group with the highest physical activity levels enhanced model fit and increased eating disorder risk. Conclusions: These findings indicate that, while physical activity is associated with certain benefits related to body composition and eating habits, it may also be linked to a heightened risk of disordered eating behaviors, contingent upon the underlying motivations and body perceptions involved. This study highlights the necessity for comprehensive preventive strategies that address both the physical and psychological dimensions of physical activity in female university students.