RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CALORIE INTAKE AMONG DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS

This study investigates the relationship between physical activity and calorie intake among different demographic groups in selected urban and rural barangays of Pagadian City and Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. Guided by the COM-B Model of Behavior, the study explores how capability, opportunity, and motivation influence dietary and exercise behaviors, while demographic factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location serve as moderating variables.A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) and standardized physical fitness tests to collect data from 583 respondents, comprising adolescents (12–18 years) and adults (19–44 years). Stratified random sampling ensured representation across urban and rural barangays. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine differences and relationships between variables, with hypotheses tested at a 0.05 significance level. Overall, the findings indicate that physical activity levels were relatively similar between rural and urban respondents, while calorie intake differed significantly across locations. Urban residents generally consumed higher calories, likely influenced by environmental and socioeconomic factors, whereas rural respondents showed lower calorie intake with comparable activity levels. The study revealed a statistically significant but weak positive correlation between weekly calorie intake and physical activity, indicating inconsistent energy balance among participants. While physical activity levels remained similar across demographics, calorie intake differed significantly by location: urban residents (Sto. Niño at 19,510 kcal/week) consumed substantially more than rural residents (Bokong at 13,930 kcal/week). Furthermore, a Chi-square test confirmed that physical fitness levels are significantly associated with locality , suggesting that environmental and lifestyle factors, rather than calorie intake alone, are the primary drivers of physical fitness outcomes. Physical activity and calorie intake are weakly related, while fitness varies by environment. Overall, fitness depends on lifestyle, environment, and nutrition.