Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of physical activity and sitting time among South American adolescents: a harmonized analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional surveys

Abstract

Background To identify the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of different domains of physical activity (PA) and higher sitting time among South American adolescents. Methods Data from national surveys of 11 South American countries were analyzed, and comprised information on 166,901 adolescents. PA (≥ 60 min/day of moderate-vigorous PA), physical education classes (PEC) (≥ 3 classes/wk), active commuting to school (≥ 1 d/wk), and higher sitting time (≥ 3 h/d) were self-reported. Sociodemographic correlates, such as gender, age, and food security status were explored using a random effect meta-analysis for logistic parameters. Results Recommended PA ranged between 7.5% (Brazil) and 19.0% (Suriname). Peru (2.2%) and Guyana (43.1%) presented the lowest prevalence of PEC and active commuting to school, respectively. Higher sitting time was less prevalent in Bolivia (24.6%) and more prevalent in Argentina (55.6%). Compared to girls, boys were more prone to reach recommendations for PA [OR = 1.94(1.65;2.28)]; to reach ≥ 3 PEC [OR = 1.17(1.04;1.33)] and to be active in commuting to school [(OR = 1.14(1.06;1.23)], but less prone to higher sitting time [OR = 0.89(0.82;0.96)]. Older adolescents had less odds of reach PA guidelines [OR = 0.86(0.77; 0.97)] and accumulated higher sitting time [OR = 1.27(1.14;1.41)]. Adolescents with food insecurity reported more PEC [OR = 1.12(1.04;1.21)] and active commuting to school [OR = 1.12(1.02;1.22)] but had less higher sitting time than their food security pairs [OR = 0.89(0.81;0.98)]. Conclusions Few adolescents reach the PA recommendation. Actions aiming the promotion of PA and the reduction of sitting time must consider girls and older adolescents as target groups, as well as the specifics of each country.

Household food insecurity and physical activity behaviour in Ecuadorian children and adolescents: findings from the Ecuador 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT-2018)

“…Their findings indicated that food insecurity in adolescents living in upper-middle income and low-income countries was not associated with SB. (41) This contrasts with the results from other studies suggesting that HFI was associated with higher (40) or lower (12) SB. Since more than two-thirds (68 %) of our study participants had less than 2 hours of daily SB, it is possible that the Ecuadorian population is at an earlier stage of epidemiologic transition characterised by a lower prevalence of SB among children and adolescents.…”

“…A study in Brazil, an upper middle-income country, reported a lack of association between food insecurity and PA in adolescents ( 11 ) . More recently, two studies used pooled cross-sectional data from low-, middle- and high-income countries to assess the relationship between food insecurity and PA in children aged 11 years and older ( 12 , 13 ) . In one, the authors used data from ninety-five countries and found that food-insecure children had lower levels of PA compared with their food-secure counterparts ( 13 ) .…”

“…In one, the authors used data from ninety-five countries and found that food-insecure children had lower levels of PA compared with their food-secure counterparts ( 13 ) . The other study that used national survey data from eleven South American countries found that food-insecure adolescents were more likely to actively commute to school, participate in physical education classes and engage in less time sitting than food-secure adolescents, but did not find an association with total PA ( 12 ) . Therefore, existing literature is inconsistent with studies reporting positive, negative and null associations between HFI and PA.…”

Cross-Sectional Associations between Playing Sports or Electronic Games in Leisure Time and Life Satisfaction in 12-Year-Old Children from the European Union

“…The results achieved maintain continuity with those provided by the study applied on a sample of 227,441 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 years, which belongs to 45 countries/regions who participated in the 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey [ 32 ], regarding the presence of low levels of physical activity. Thus, in light of more recent international studies [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], research data find persistence and concern regarding the low insufficiency of prevalence towards physical activity by adolescents in different regions of the world, including the European region. In this sense, with a view to discuss with recent results showing a decrease in physical activity and an increase in sedentary activities among most school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 39 ], we infer the high complexity and permanence that crosses the analyzed thematic.…”

Sociodemographic Inequalities in Physical Activity in Latin America: Time for Policies Targeted at Groups that Need it the Most

“…But in most Latin American countries, prevalence of any leisure-time physical activity is less than 50% [ 5 ], indicating poor access to physical activity opportunities and facilities. In this region, physical activity, particularly during leisure-time, has increased over the years [ 5 , 6 ] but inequalities related to income and gender also increased, and gender inequalities persist [ 5 , 6 ].…”