A1 Journal article (refereed)
Is health promotion in sports clubs associated with adolescent participants’ fruit and vegetable consumption? (2023)

Heikkilä, L., Korpelainen, R., Aira, T., Alanko, L., Heinonen, O. J., Kokko, S., Parkkari, J., Savonen, K., Toivo, K., Valtonen, M., Vasankari, T., Villberg, J., & Vanhala, M. (2023). Is health promotion in sports clubs associated with adolescent participants’ fruit and vegetable consumption?. European Journal of Public Health, 33(6), 1102-1108. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad158

JYU authors or editors

Aira, Tuula
Kokko, Sami
Parkkari, Jari
Villberg, Jari

Publication details

All authors or editors: Heikkilä, Laura; Korpelainen, Raija; Aira, Tuula; Alanko, Lauri; Heinonen, Olli J.; Kokko, Sami; Parkkari, Jari; Savonen, Kai; Toivo, Kerttu; Valtonen, Maarit; et al.

Journal or series: European Journal of Public Health

ISSN: 1101-1262

eISSN: 1464-360X

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 04/09/2023

Volume: 33

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 1102–1108

Article number: ckad158

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad158

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88988

Abstract

Background
Although sports clubs’ potential for health promotion is acknowledged, research on whether they promote healthy eating is limited. We aimed to evaluate Finnish youth sports clubs’ health promotion orientation, as well as associations between sports clubs’ health promotion orientation, coaches’ nutritional discussions and sports club participants’ (SPs’) fruit and/or vegetable consumption.

Methods
The cross-sectional study included 554 SPs aged 14–16 years, 275 club officials and 311 coaches. Participants replied to questionnaires about sports clubs’ health promotion and their own health behaviours, including dietary habits. Health promotion orientation was estimated using a Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) index (range 0–22) and nutritional discussions and fruit and/or vegetable consumption as frequencies. A mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse the associations.

Results
Most sports clubs (69%) had a high health promotion orientation, but the variation between the clubs was wide (HPSC index range 5–21). SPs’ daily fruit and/or vegetable consumption was associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 3.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.23–5.42, P < 0.001], better self-rated health (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.13–9.41, P = 0.03), higher average school grades (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04–2.67, P = 0.03), and SPs’ responses that their coach had often discussed nutrition (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.41–3.14, P < 0.001).

Conclusion
Although sports clubs’ orientation towards health promotion was mostly high, it seems not to be enough to promote healthy eating among adolescent participants. Instead, coaches’ nutritional discussions were associated with adolescents’ fruit and/or vegetable consumption.

Keywords: sports clubs; coaches (occupations); young people; health promotion; health; eating; fruits; vegetables; dietetics; nutritional behaviour; health behaviour; food habits