{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:32:29Z","timestamp":1760146349219,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,28]],"date-time":"2024-10-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1730073600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Youth"],"abstract":"<jats:p>(1) Background: In the face of global concerns regarding unhealthy lifestyles among youths, understanding dietary habits, physical activity, and weight management strategies among third-cycle students in Portugal becomes essential. This study aims to evaluate the extent to which middle school students adhere to the Mediterranean diet and assess their physical activity habits and overall weight perceptions. (2) Methods: This study is a cross-sectional observational study. Using self-reported data from a sample of 232 students aged between 12 and 18, this study delved into their dietary patterns, engagement in physical activities, perceptions of weight, and weight management approaches, measured by the KIDMED and YRB questionnaires. (3) The results demonstrated that adolescents engaged in a varied diet, and 65.5% had recently engaged in physical activity. However, 25% reported exercise-related injuries, suggesting potential safety gaps. Extreme weight management practices were minimal, but a disparity in weight perception and weight loss desire emerged, hinting at underlying societal and media influences. Gender differences in certain habits were minimal. (4) Conclusions: While students were generally inclined towards healthy habits, there are evident areas of concern, particularly regarding safety in physical activities and weight perceptions. In the future, interventions should be implemented to increase students\u2019 literacy and raise awareness of the Mediterranean diet and physical well-being.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/youth4040097","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,28]],"date-time":"2024-10-28T09:51:26Z","timestamp":1730109086000},"page":"1514-1525","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Youth Health Trends in Northern Portugal: Analyzing Diet, Physical Activity, and Body Image"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2554-697X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Teresa","family":"Moreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CINTESIS@RISE and Institute of Research, Innovation and Development Fernando Pessoa Foundation, 4200-256 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2931-8971","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sandra","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Sa\u00fade Fernando Pessoa, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Andreia","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CINTESIS@RISE and Higher School of Health at Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1685-9891","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salom\u00e9","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher School of Health at Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7251-5829","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carla S\u00edlvia","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CINTESIS@RISE and Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Clarinda","family":"Festas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Research, Innovation and Development Fernando Pessoa Foundation, 4200-253 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(21)01259-9","article-title":"Physical activity behaviours in adolescence: Current evidence and opportunities for intervention","volume":"398","author":"Ekelund","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Rito, A., Mendes, S., Baleia, J., and Greg\u1f79rio, M.J. 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