Physical Activity Mediates the Relationship between Emotion Regulation and Unhealthy Dietary Behaviours in Adolescents: Evidence from the Compass Study.

Difficulties in emotion regulation significantly predicted calorie-dense food and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adolescents. Moderate and vigorous physical activity appears an important and overlooked mediator of this relationship. Together, findings indicate that physical activity plays a crucial role in regulating unhealthy dietary behaviours during adolescence.