Evaluation of physical activity and perceived physical fitness as predictors of eating behavior regulation among Filipino collegiate young adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15561/20755279.2025.0508Keywords:
eating regulation, physical activity, physical fitness, collegiate, FilipinoAbstract
Background and Study Aim. Regular physical activity is closely associated with both physical fitness and self-regulation of health-related behaviors. Among young adults, the balance between eating habits and physical activity often reflects lifestyle choices that influence long-term well-being. Although various forms of physical activity are practiced, their relative effectiveness in enhancing eating behavior regulation remains a matter of practical interest. The present study aimed to investigate the predictive influence of physical activity and perceived physical fitness on eating behavior regulation among Filipino collegiate young adults. Material and Methods. A quantitative design was employed with 271 randomly selected students (88 females, 183 males) enrolled at a state university in Region III during the 2025–2026 academic year. Validated instruments were utilized, including the Self-Regulation of Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (SREBQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Self-Perception of Physical Fitness Scale (SPPFS). Each instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability and construct validity in previous research, and confirmatory factor analysis of the SPPFS in this study supported its structure (factor loadings = 0.530–0.809; Cronbach’s α = 0.768–0.848). Data were gathered through an online survey following institutional ethical approval. Multiple regression analyses tested predictive relationships, while Welch’s t-test was used to assess sex-based differences. Results. Females reported significantly lower self-perceived fitness than males in muscle strength (t = −5.03, p < .001, d = −0.68), motor (t = −4.43, p < .001, d = −0.59), cardiovascular (t = −4.57, p < .001, d = −0.60), and total fitness (t = −4.63, p < .001, d = −0.60), but not in morphology (p = .09). Physical activity did not differ significantly by sex (p > .05), and eating behavior regulation was comparable (t = 0.30, p = .77, d = 0.04). Regression analyses showed that total days, total activity squared, and vigorous, moderate, and walking METs significantly predicted eating regulation, explaining 2–8.3% of the variance, primarily among males. Subjective fitness components such as muscle strength (β = 0.130, p = .032) and cardiovascular fitness (β = 0.124, p = .041) also predicted eating regulation, accounting for a small proportion of explained variance. Conclusions. The findings emphasize the need for sex-sensitive health promotion strategies that integrate physical and psychological dimensions of fitness and eating regulation. Interpretations are limited to observed statistical relationships, as cultural mechanisms were not directly examined. Future research should include objective activity measures, multidimensional tools for eating regulation, and broader sampling to reflect diverse Filipino collegiate populations.References
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