Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and self-esteem of high school students and contribute the literature from a different sociocultural area. Methods: In this descriptive study, whole population of 10 ^th and 11 ^th grade of Capa Science High School (Istanbul/Türkiye) students are invited to study. Voluntarily participating students were asked to answer the questions written on standard survey paper, under the observation of researchers. Survey papers included sociodemographic answers as well as Short Form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire to evaluate physical activity levels and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale to evaluate self-esteem. IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 11) were used to analyse data. Level of p<0.05 was accepted as statistical significance. Results: Data of 225 persons were succesfully collected (n=278, 80.93%). 16 persons’ data was excluded from physical activity related analyses due to incomplete answers. The 71.60% (n=161) of participants were male, 27.60% (n=62) were female and rest (n=2) did not want to express their genders. Males reported higher self-esteem (p=0.002) and higher physical activity (p=0.031) than females. Self-esteem was associated with regular exercise (p=0.034) status and self-evaluted school success (p=0.001). Self-esteem correlated with participants’ height (p=0.029, r=0.146). Finally, positive correlation between self-esteem and physical activity was found. (p=0.045, r=0.140). Conclusion: Physical activity and self-esteem was correlated with each other in this study. Potential causational relation and underlying mechanisms should be investigated.

Epilepsy is associated with impaired reproductive function and testicular pathologies. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a nonpharmacological metabolic intervention with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study investigated the protective effects of IF on testicular damage in a genetic absence epilepsy rat model (GAERS), focusing on histomorphology, oxidative stress parameters, and hormonal profiles. Testicular tissues from Wistar control (WC), Wistar + IF (WIF), GAERS control (GC), and GAERS + IF (GIF) groups (total n = 20; 5 rats per group) were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin and Periodic Acid–Schiff staining. Apoptosis and spermatogenic cell integrity were assessed using caspase-3, P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI), and Deleted in Azoospermia-Like (DAZL) immunohistochemistry. Johnsen’s score, seminiferous tubule diameter, and epithelial thickness were quantified. Oxidative stress markers, including catalase, malondialdehyde, glutathione, myeloperoxidase, and superoxide dismutase, were measured using spectrophotometric methods, and serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were determined using ELISA kits. The GC group showed significantly reduced Johnsen scores, tubular diameters, and epithelial thickness, along with disrupted basement membrane integrity and increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity. IF significantly improved histological parameters, restored basement membrane integrity, reduced apoptosis, and increased PIWI and DAZL expression in the GIF group. IF also ameliorated oxidative stress and elevated reproductive hormone levels, indicating positive modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. In conclusion, IF reduces oxidative stress and preserves seminiferous tubules and hormonal function in genetic absence epilepsy, highlighting its potential as a supportive nonpharmacological approach to protect male reproductive health.