Prevalência de barreiras para a prática de atividade física em adolescentes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and association of barriers to physical activity among adolescents. This cross-sectional study evaluated a representative sample of public high school students in Curitiba-PR, Brazil. A total of 1,609 school adolescents (59.7% male) between 14 and 18 years of age answered a questionnaire on physical activity status and barriers to physical activity. Logistic regressions were conducted for each barrier investigated to verify the association between the prevalence of barriers and physical activity, adjusting for confounding variables (age and socioeconomic status). Analyses were done separately for boys and girls. Only 22% of boys and 9% of girls achieved the current physical activity recommendation. Among the 12 barriers investigated, only "there is nobody to take" did not differ between boys and girls. The perception of barriers was higher for girls than boys (p < 0.05) for all other barriers. "Lack of friends company" and "feel lazy" were the barriers most often reported by boys (30.4%) and girls (51.8%) respectively; however, the barrier most strongly associated with prevalence of physical inactivity was "prefer to do other things" for both boys (OR = 5.02 (2.69 - 9.37); p < 0.05) and girls (OR = 7.10 (3.71 - 13.60); p < 0.05). Perceived barriers for the practice of physical activity were more prevalent in girls and differed as to the extent of importance between genders.

Health and nutrition in public and private schools in the city of Recife

“…This support is made available by friends, teachers and family, and can improve the school environment 13 as well as influence in the practice of physical activity and health eating behavior. [21][22][23][24][25] Silva et al, 10 which also evaluated the participation of parents and teachers, indicate a low execution of these initiatives for the group of adolescents, which demonstrates the necessity of a higher guidance for this age group.…”

“…10 Despite of the concerning from the educators about these extracurricular and school activities, it is noted that the tasks developed in classroom are, in general, based in the particular understanding which each teacher possesses about what health is, with isolated, overlapping and discontinuous actions. 22,12 These teachers experience an array of difficulties in the elaboration and execution of health education. The discussion about the role of the teacher in this process, as well as his or her training, are necessary procedures in order to conduct the promotion of healthy behaviors in the school environment.…”

“…22,28,29 Studies in this area have been verifying that interventions of physical activities in school environment reduce the body mass index (BMI), and is regular practice represents an important change in the nutritional state of this group. 13,29 However, in about a half of the public schools from the municipality, the managers realized the structure of physical activity support as being inappropriate.…”

“…11 It is important to highlight that the school environment itself does not necessarily implies the participation of these students andthe adoption of more active behaviors. According to Santos et al, 22 the realization of barriers for the physical activity may include internal factors (individual characteristics and minor priority to physical activity) as well as external factors (influence of someone or of the family, inaccessibility, safety and cost).…”

“…This and other problems which the school community experience should be identified, debated and considered in the implementation of health promoting measures, once is very difficult to modify risk behaviors without changing social determinants that influence them. 7,22,28,30 To monitor the nutritional state of the adolescents in school environment is considered a measure of prevention and of integral care regarding the aggravations related to eating and nutrition which focuses the reduction of overweight and obesity prevalence, as well as the CNCBs. 4,10,11,27 In this study, few schools executed the monitoring of nutritional state of the adolescents.…”