The objective of this research was to compare the healthy behaviors and caries index of young people in school to obtain an overview of their lifestyles, which would enable the development of educational programs for the promotion of oral health. The study design was carried out using a descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational methodology with a mixed approach. 380 twelve-year-old students participated in this research conducted in the city of Riobamba-Ecuador. The techniques used were observational and surveys with their respective instruments, the Dental Clinical History, and the Health Behavior in School-aged Children 2014-Spain questionnaire. The community index of the Decayed, Missing due to caries, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) reflected a high level (6.47) in the study subjects. A variety of foods such as fruits, chips, vegetables, candy, sugar-containing drinks, meat, fish, dairy, and cereals were consumed at least once a week by most students. Two statistically significant associations were demonstrated in this investigation. The first one was between fruit consumption and the DMFT index, the second one was between vegetable consumption and the DMFT index. Both associations showed significant values (p) of 0.049 and 0.028, respectively; these were not determining indicators since caries is a multifactorial pathology, which can develop not only as a product of poor eating habits.

(1) Background: Society’s shift to a tech-focused era and has created a hyper-connected, sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of this study is to address two objectives: firstly, to describe and analyze the effects of an active breaks program associated with the learning of curricular content (CF-AB) on levels of attention, concentration, and academic performance (AP); secondly, to examine the relationship between intense physical activity (PA), attention, concentration, academic self-concept, basic psychological needs, and academic performance in schoolchildren who practice CF-ABs. (2) Method: A randomized controlled trial quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study with a non-probabilistic sample included 313 secondary school students divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention, a curricular-focused academic break (CF-AB) (8 weeks, 5–10 min/session), is taken in the middle of the class and linked with the subject content. Measuring instruments: Attention Test D2, ad hoc test for the AP, self-concept AF5, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale in General (BNSG-S), and the Global PA Questionnaire (GPAC.V2). (3) Results: Attention and concentration improved in both groups, with no significant differences. There were no significant differences in academic self-concept, but the intervention group showed higher scores in basic psychological needs. AP correlated positively with concentration, academic self-concept, and physical activity. A proportion of 20% of the variance of AP in spelling is explained by the regression model. Students who improved the most in AP practiced intense PA outside school, with good self-concept and satisfactory social relationships. Although concentration was related to AP, it did not explain the improvement. (4) Conclusion: CF-ABs may have a positive impact on attention and AP, with socioemotional factors and PA playing an important role in this effect. (5) Limitations and Future Research: The relationship between PA performed in class and AP should be considered with caution due to the multifactorial nature of AP. Future research should consider the number of sessions per week, the prolongation of the same during the school year, the intensity and duration of the activity, and the intervention type of active breaks. In addition, attention should be paid to possible incident factors in AP related to personal and social variables.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationships between academic performance, physical activity, and academic stress in secondary education students, while the secondary objective is to establish differences by gender in the physical activity and academic stress levels of secondary students based on academic performance. Methods: The sample was composed of students from both sexes who attended public institutions. Data collection was conducted applying an ad hoc questionnaire for academic performance, the PAQ-C questionnaire for physical activity, and the QASSE questionnaire for academic stress. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics: Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used for associations, while comparisons were conducted via the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test. Results: The results show that academic stress is negatively correlated with physical activity and academic performance. Men present significantly higher values in physical activity, while women present higher mean values in general academic stress and the academic overload dimension. Lastly, regarding academic performance, significant differences were observed in the family pressure dimension, with students who perform better academically presenting lower mean values in this dimension of academic stress. Conclusions: In conclusion, the more the general academic stress, the lower the physical activity levels and academic performance. In addition, physical activity appears as a potential coping strategy for academic stress, and its influence on academic performance should be further studied in secondary education.

The aim of the present study was to examine the sex-related associations between accelerometer-measured daily step counts and adiposity indicators in adults from eight Latin American countries. We analyzed data from 2524 adults (aged 18–65 years) from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health. Device-measured daily step counts were measured by accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X). The outcomes were body mass index (BMI; (kg/m2), waist and neck circumference (in cm). Overall, the mean of daily steps counts, BMI, waist and neck circumference were 10699.8, 27.3, 89.6, and 35.8. Weak and negative associations were observed between daily steps counts and BMI (r = −0.17; p < 0.05) and waist circumference (r = −0.16; p < 0.05); however, step counts was not associated with neck circumference. Daily steps counts were negatively associated with BMI (β: −0.054; 95%CI: −0.077; −0.012) and waist circumference (−0.098; −0.165; −0.030) independently of age and socioeconomic level. In men, there were significant negative associations between daily steps counts with BMI (−0.075; −0.119; −0.031) and waist circumference (−0.140; −0.233; −0.048), and in women, there was no significant association with either of the body composition indicators. The findings from this study need to be examined in prospective settings that use device-measured from Latin America.

En esta investigación se realiza un estudio sobre el control del estrés en deportistas, utilizando como muestra 100 jugadores de fútbol semiprofesionales. Se parte de la consideración de que controlar el estrés para no llegar a estados de ansiedad es imprescindible, ya que alcanzar estos estados provoca efectos negativos en otras variables psicológicas del deportista, disminuyendo su autoconfianza y perjudicando el control atencional. El objetivo de esta investigación es describir los niveles de ansiedad, autoconfianza y atención-concentración en futbolistas semiprofesionales, mediante el análisis de la variable psicológica control del estrés. El instrumento utilizado para el estudio es la escala control del estrés del cuestionario de Características Psicológicas relacionadas con el Rendimiento Deportivo (CPRD). Como conclusiones del estudio, cabe destacar que desarrollar la habilidad psicológica de control del estrés, previene alcanzar estados de ansiedad y como consecuencia, posibilita mantener elevada la autoconfianza y una buena capacidad de atención-concentración durante la competición. In this research, a study on stress management in athletes is carried out with a sample of 100 semi-professional football players. Stress control is essential for avoiding a state of anxiety, as this state may have negative effects on other psychological variables of athletes, decreasing their self-confidence and harming their attentional control. The objective of this research is to describe anxiety, self-confidence, and attention-concentration levels in semi-professional footballers by means of analysing stress control. The instrument used for the study is the stress control scale from the Psychological Characteristics related to Sports Performance (CPRD) questionnaire. As a conclusion, it is noteworthy that developing the psychological ability of controlling stress prevents the appearance of anxiety states, allowing athletes to maintain high self-confidence and good attention-concentration capacity during competitions.

Background: Concurrent training of strength and endurance has been widely ued in the field of health, with favorable effects on body composition. However, the effect on the body composition of a ludic-motor concurrent proposal in adults with Down syndrome has not been quantified yet. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a concurrent training program based on motor games on body composition indicators and cardiometabolic risk on schooled male adults with Down syndrome. Methods: The sample is composed of 15 male adults with Down syndrome from Chile. Body composition variables such as body mass index, waist circumference, height to waist ratio, skin folds, perimeters, and muscle areas were assessed at the beginning and end of the program. Subsequently, a program of motor games was designed and implemented for 10 months. Results: Mean and standard deviation for body fat were pre (25.36 ± 5.60) and post (23.01 ± 6.20)%; waist circumference pre (86.00 ± 8.97) and post (82.07 ± 8.38) cm. Brachial perimeter and muscle area were pre (22.30 ± 2.80) and post (23.61 ± 2.28) cm; pre (40.19 ± 10.09) and post (44.77 ± 8.48) cm², respectively. Our findings showed significant results (p < 0.05): body fat %; sum of folds; waist circumference; height to waist ratio; brachial perimeter and brachial muscle area. Conclusion: A concurrent training program implemented through motor skills games decreases body fat and cardiovascular risk and increases the muscle mass in male adults with Down syndrome.