Physical activity and self-reported health status among adolescents: a cross-sectional population-based study

Abstract

ObjectivesLittle is known about the dose–response relationship between physical activity and health benefits among young people. Our objective was to analyse the association between the frequency of undertaking moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the self-reported health status of the adolescent population.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAll regions of Spain.ParticipantsStudents aged 11–18 years participating in the Spanish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey 2006. A total of 375 schools and 21 188 students were selected.Main outcomesThe frequency of undertaking MVPA was measured by a questionnaire, with the following four health indicators: self-rated health, health complaints, satisfaction with life and health-related quality of life. Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyse the association, adjusting for potential confounding variables and the modelling of the dose–response relationship.ResultsAs the frequency of MVPA increased, the association with health benefits was stronger. A linear trend (p<0.05) was found for self-rated health and health complaints in males and females and for satisfaction with life among females; for health-related quality of life this relationship was quadratic for both sexes (p<0.05). For self-reported health and health complaints, the effect was found to be of greater magnitude in males than in females and, in all scales, the benefits were observed from the lowest frequencies of MVPA, especially in males.ConclusionsA protective effect of MVPA was found in both sexes for the four health indicators studied, and this activity had a gradient effect. Among males, health benefits were detected from very low levels of physical activity and the magnitude of the relationship was greater than that for females.

Self-reported physical inactivity and health complaints: a cross-sectional study of Lithuanian adolescent schoolgirls

“…Data from a large cross-sectional study of teenage females also found that PTSD diagnosis in adolescence was associated with poorer health outcomes, particularly more chronic conditions and reproductive health problems 9 . In our study, physical inactivity was significantly associated with health complaints, corroborating other studies, indicating a positive effect of physical activity on general health status 4,5,11,25,26 . The majority of studies investigated the role of physical activity in the relationship between school-related stress and adolescent health complaints 27,28 .…”

“…intrinsic motivation to be physically active), physical activity, and eating patterns may lead to psychosomatic complaints (headache, backache, and stomachache, among others) 3 . A recent study showed a protective effect of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in both sexes among adolescents for four health indicators (self-rated health, health complaints, satisfaction with life, and health-related quality of life) 4 . In the latter study, associations between physical activity and health complaints were adjusted for health behaviors (smoking, alcohol intake), body mass index (BMI), dietary patterns (consumption of fruit and vegetables), screen time (TV and/or computer), parents' socioeconomic status (SES), and satisfaction with family and friends, while the study did not allow predicting associations with poor mental health.…”

Correlates of Achieving the Guidelines of Four Forms of Physical Activity, and the Relationship between Guidelines Achievement and Academic Performance: Undergraduate Students in Finland

“…Our students with better academic performance compared to peers were more likely to achieve the MPA guideline, similar to findings among adolescents, where not having a high level of academic achievement was associated with higher noncompliance to PA recommendations (46). However, in Finland, self-reported PA was directly associated with academic achievement; but, objectively measured PA was not associated with academic achievement (12); and among first-year university students in Switzerland, better PA did not predict better learning goal achievement; and day-to-day PA was not related to daily learning goal achievement (47).…”

Age and Gender Differences in Prevalence of Screen Based Behaviour, Physical Activity and Health Complaints among Slovak School-aged Children

“…Positive benefits of regular physical activity, including positive effect on mental and physical health, are generally known (1,6,7). However, research suggests that many children do not reach recommended levels of physical activity (8)(9)(10).…”