Health self-perception and its association with physical activity and nutritional status in adolescents

Objective: To evaluate the association between total physical activities, physical activity in free time and nutritional status with self-perceived health in adolescents of both genders. Methods: This is a quantitative study that integrates the school-based, cross-sectional epidemiological survey with statewide coverage, whose sample consisted of 6261 adolescents (14–19 years old) selected by random conglomerate sampling. Data were collected using the Global School-based Student Health Survey. The chi-squared test (χ²) and the Poisson regression model with robust variance were used in the data analyses. Results: It was observed that 27.3% of the adolescents had a negative health self-perception, which was higher among girls (33.0% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, it was observed that boys who did not practice physical activity during free time (PR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.15–1.81) and were classified as insufficiently active (PR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.04–1.56), as well as girls who did not practice physical activity during free time (PR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02–1.29) and were classified as overweight (PR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01–1.29) had a greater chance of negative health self-perception. Conclusion: Behavioral issues may have different effects on health self-perception when comparing boys with girls. Negative health self-perception was associated with nutritional status in girls and a lower level of physical activity in boys, and the practice of physical activity in the free time was considered a protective factor against a negative health self-perception for adolescents of both genders.