Prevalence and Correlates of Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study of a Rural City in Japan

Abstract

Background: Although moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has multiple health benefits, current participation in recommended MVPA level and its determinants among Japanese children and adolescents remain unclear. Therefore, this crosssectional study investigated the prevalence of meeting recommended MVPA level and its correlates among Japanese children and adolescents. Methods: Using the Japanese version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey questionnaire, we confirmed the prevalence of meeting recommended MVPA level in all primary schools (PS) and junior high schools (JHS) in Unnan City, Japan. We evaluated its association with school grade, gender, body weight status, screen time, consumption of breakfast, physical activity (PA) preference, and population density using Poisson regression. Results: We found that 20.1% of the 1,794 students (9-15 years old) met the WHO recommendation. Meeting recommended MVPA level was significantly associated with being in the sixth grade of PS (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.84) and first (PR 1.52; 95% CI, 1.16-1.99), second (PR 1.45; 95% CI, 1.10-1.90), and third grade of JHS (PR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.26-0.62) (vs fourth grade of PS); being a boy (PR 1.33; 95% CI, 1.12-1.59) (vs girl); liking PA (PR 3.72; 95% CI, 2.22-6.22) (vs dislike); and belonging to a medium-population-density (PR 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.88) or lowpopulation-density area (PR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.94) (vs high-population-density area). Conclusions: About 20% of Japanese children and adolescents engaged in the recommended MVPA level. MVPA was associated with grade, gender, preference for PA, and population density.

Relationship between the skeletal muscle mass index and physical activity of Japanese children: A cross-sectional, observational study

“…Our analysis showed that 54.8% of school-age (6–12 years) boys and girls did not fulfill the current recommendations for daily physical activity. This finding was in contrast to the rate (79.9%) observed among adolescents aged 9–15 years in Unnan City, Japan [ 78 ]. Furthermore, a survey of Thai children aged 6–17 years ( n = 13,225) indicated that 76.6% of the respondents did not perform the recommended MVPA levels [ 79 ].…”

Adherence to the Japanese Physical Activity Guideline During Early Childhood Among Rural Preschoolers: A Cross-sectional Study

“… 17 We previously reported that the prevalence of meeting the PA guideline for children and adolescents in girls was lower as compared to that in boys among Japanese children aged 9–15 years. 18 Our results extend these relevant pieces of evidence from Japanese children to preschoolers, showing that the gender differences were already observed in the preschool period. Regarding gender differences in PA levels among preschoolers, a study reported that preschool girls preferred playing inside/drawing/doing craft than being physically active, 19 which was in part associated with their lower PA levels.…”

Gender differences in related influential factors of regular exercise behavior among people in Taiwan in 2007: A cross-sectional study

“…However, some recent studies still found a significant correlation between received partner support and time of physical activity [29]. Other significant factors found in this study was not influenced by time, such as "Enjoyment in exercise" and factors related with the eastern culture and lifestyle [30,31]. Gender roles in family and the concept that seniors start to enjoy life after retirement did not change in Asian countries for the last decade [11,30].…”