Association Between Lifestyle and Obesity in Adolescents Aged 14 to 19 Years

Abstract

Adolescent obesity is a growing global public health problem, strongly linked to modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior. This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize recent scientific evidence (2020–2025) on the relationship between lifestyle and obesity in students aged 14 to 19 years. The PRISMA methodology was applied to select relevant studies. Searches were conducted in scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on adolescent populations, rigorous methodological design, and full-text availability. A total of 35 studies were selected for qualitative meta-synthesis. Findings show a strong association between unhealthy lifestyles and the prevalence of obesity in adolescents. High consumption of ultra-processed foods, low levels of physical activity, excessive screen time, and insufficient sleep were common factors among students with higher body mass index (BMI). School-, family-, and community-based interventions showed positive effects when they addressed multiple components of lifestyle. Improving adolescents’ lifestyles through integrated health promotion strategies is an effective pathway for obesity prevention. It was concluded that improving adolescents' lifestyles through integrated health promotion strategies represents an effective means of preventing obesity. The evidence suggests that sustainable public policies and multidisciplinary approaches in the school and family settings are needed.