Study on the Relationship Between Dietary Habits and Cardiorespiratory Endurance in Adolescents

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary habits and cardiorespiratory endurance in adolescents, providing reference recommendations to improve the physical health of adolescents in China. Methods: From September to December 2023, a total of 6,741 adolescents aged 13-18 years were selected as participants using the lottery sampling method in Shanghai, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Wuyuan, Xingyi, and Urumqi. Tests on dietary habits and 20-meter shuttle run tests (20m SRT) were conducted. Variance analysis and linear hierarchical regression were employed to examine the relationship between dietary habits and cardiorespiratory endurance across different genders and age groups. Results: Adolescents’ 20m SRT results peaked at the age of 16, with averages of 50.86 and 37.74 laps for males and females, respectively. Beyond age 16, the decline in females’ performance was significantly steeper compared to males. Among dietary habits, “weekly breakfast frequency” and “weekly milk consumption frequency” were identified as positive factors associated with “high cardiorespiratory endurance levels.” Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation for both factors(B=2.72 and 0.95, P<0.01). Conclusion: There is a significant association between adolescents’ dietary habits and their cardiorespiratory endurance.Specifically, adolescents who regularly consume breakfast and milk demonstrate superior cardiorespiratory endurance. Therefore, fostering healthy dietary habits is critical to enhancing overall physical fitness in adolescents.