Atividade física e fatores associados em adolescentes do ensino médio de Curitiba, Brasil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the prevalence of physical activity in adolescents and to identify associated factors. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample (n=1,518, 59.2% females) of students aged between 14 and 18 years, enrolled in the public school network of the city of Curitiba, Southern Brazil, in 2006. Physical activity practice was self-reported, according to the number of days per week when they perform moderate to vigorous physical activity lasting ≥ 60 minutes. This practice was analyzed in two distinct models. In the fi rst model, the variable was dichotomized into "0 day" and "≥ 1 day"; in the second, into "≤ 4 days" and "≥ 5 days". Independent variables were as follows: biological-demographic (sex, age, body mass index); socioeconomic (parents' level of education, number of cars); behavioral (number of hours spent watching television, number of hours spent using a computer); and sociocultural (social support from family and friends and the perception of barriers to the practice of activities), tested with Poisson regression. RESULTS:In the fi rst model of analysis, the prevalence of physical activity was 58.2% (75.1% in males; 46.5% in females; p<0.001), while, in the second, it was 14.5% (22.3% and 9.1%, respectively; p<0.001). In the fi rst model, the variables associated with physical activity were: male sex (PR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.48;1.78), social support from family (PR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.05;1.23), social support from friends (PR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.31;1.78) and high perception of barriers (PR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.46;0.62). In the second model, only male sex (PR=2.45, 95% CI: 1.73;3.46) and high perception of barriers (PR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.15;0.38) were associated with physical activity. CONCLUSIONS:More than half of adolescents practice physical activity at least one day of the week, although 14.5% achieved the current recommendations. The recommended levels are associated with a lower number of factors. Gender and perception of barriers were consistently associated with physical activity levels.

Physical activity, psychosocial and perceived environmental factors in adolescents from Northeast Brazil

“…For social support from friends, the chance of an adolescent being physically more active was almost three times higher among those reporting more social support. These results are similar to those obtained by other studies, showing that adolescents who had more social support from their parents 23,25 and/or friends 24,23,30,31 were physically more active. However, some studies identified no significant relationship between social support from parents 32 and/or friends 21,32 and physical activity level.…”

Distância percebida até as instalações de lazer e sua associação com a prática de atividade física e de exercícios em adolescentes de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil

“…O cálculo amostral foi realizado considerando um erro de três pontos percentuais, prevalência estimada de 50% de inatividade física, efeito de deli-neamento de 1,5, excesso de 10% para perdas e recusas e intervalo de 95% de confiança (IC95%) 22 . Com base nesses dados, o tamanho da amostra foi estimado em 1.609 escolares 22 .…”

“…Com base nesses dados, o tamanho da amostra foi estimado em 1.609 escolares 22 . Para a estimativa do efeito do desenho, empregaram-se valores recomendados na literatura para pesquisas com estratégias de amostragens semelhantes às do presente estudo 23 .…”

Health-related physical fitness and sociodemographic factors: a study with schoolchildren from Santa Cruz do Sul - RS

“…6 Evidence suggests that increasing urbanization has also led to increased physical inactivity during childhood and adolescence. 7 This effect is due to the reduction in time devoted to physical activity and the lack of suitable spaces for sports, whether outdoors or in gyms, which cause decreases in physical fitness levels. [7][8][9] The above mentioned set of factors has drawn the attention of researchers in the exercise and health sciences areas because these factors directly contribute to lower levels of physical standards, particularly in children and adolescents.…”

“…7 This effect is due to the reduction in time devoted to physical activity and the lack of suitable spaces for sports, whether outdoors or in gyms, which cause decreases in physical fitness levels. [7][8][9] The above mentioned set of factors has drawn the attention of researchers in the exercise and health sciences areas because these factors directly contribute to lower levels of physical standards, particularly in children and adolescents. 9,10 However, another variable is becoming essential for a better understanding of this problem: sociodemographics.…”