Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

This study looks at teenagers' daily habits, how they sleep, eat, exercise, and use screens, to understand how these habits are connected to their emotions and body image. In particular, we wanted to see whether certain combinations of habits are linked to "emotional eating," meaning eating in response to feelings like sadness, stress, or boredom. We collected information from more than 580 children and teens aged 6 to 17 who took part in the Global Health Program. They completed online questionnaires about their lifestyle habits and emotional well-being. We found three main lifestyle patterns: - Inactive but balanced lifestyle - not very active, but generally good sleep and eating habits. - Healthy lifestyle - good sleep, healthy eating, and regular physical activity. - Active but unbalanced lifestyle - very active, but with less healthy sleep or eating routines. We also found some differences between girls and boys. Among girls, those with a healthy lifestyle were less likely to eat in response to negative emotions or for comfort. Among boys, emotional eating did not seem to differ based on lifestyle. These findings show that health programs in schools and healthcare settings should address not only diet and physical activity, but also sleep and mental health. Understanding how these habits interact can help design better, more personalized approaches to support healthy and balanced routines that protect both the physical and emotional well-being of young people.