Objective: to examine adolescent physical fitness and nutritional behaviours.

Design: descriptive study; analysis of health-related physical fitness using the Alpha Fitness Test battery and analysis of nutritional behaviours based on a brief food consumption frequency questionnaire.

Participants: 194 male participants divided in subsample 1 (14 years old / n=37), subsample 2 (15 years old / n=47), subsample 3 (16 years old / n=72) and subsample 4 (17 years old / n=38). Variables measured: anthropometric and physical fitness (Alpha Fitness Test) and nutritional variables.

Analysis: Kolgorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit, visual and analytical univariate analyses; Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculated to determine inter-variable relationships, confirmed with multiple linear regressions.

Results: High fitness test scores in subsamples 1 and 2 (n=37/47); low scores in subsample 3 (n=72) and very low in subsample 4 (n=38); above average protein and fat consumption, below average carbohydrate intake and total Kcal requirements met in subsamples 1 and 2 only.

Conclusions and Implications: The study reveals that the physical fitness score and nutritional behaviours are highest in 14 and 15-year-old, decline in health-related physical fitness with increasing age (16-17) and adolescent nutritional patterns out of line with scientific standards.