Secular Trends in the Achievement of Physical Activity Guidelines: Indicator of Sustainability of Healthy Lifestyle in Czech Adolescents

Abstract

(1) Background: The increasing socio-economic and educational demands on adolescents should be reflected in their lifestyles accordingly. The aim of the study was therefore to identify the trends in the achievement of physical activity (PA) guidelines by Czech adolescents through objective and subjective PA monitoring. (2) Methods: The research was carried out between 2010 and 2017 and involved 49 secondary schools, 2 higher vocational schools, and 8 universities in the Czech Republic. In total, the projects involved 1129 girls and 779 boys. PA monitoring was performed by Yamax SW-700 pedometers and IPAQ-long questionnaires. (3) Results: The results according to the average number of steps/day confirm a decrease in the amount of PA in boys and girls and in the achievement of the recommended 11,000 steps/day. However, the estimates of meeting the recommended weekly PA expressed as MET-min/week based on the IPAQ-long questionnaire are not so convincing about the decrease. (4) Conclusions: The combination of objective monitoring of weekly PA using wearables and subjective estimates of weekly PA using a questionnaire regarding the ease of application, appears to be a sufficient indicator of the status of and trend in PA and thus the sustainability of a healthy lifestyle in youths.

The Association between Participation in Organized Physical Activity and the Structure of Weekly Physical Activity in Polish Adolescents

“…In similar conditions in the Czech Republic, no significant differences were observed in walking between adolescent boys and girls [ 42 ]. However, during the specific times like the COVID–19 pandemic, walking should be significantly represented in OPA.…”

The Differences in Physical Activity Preferences and Practices among High versus Low Active Adolescents in Secondary Schools

“…The "International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form" (IPAQ-LF) for adolescents was used [23,24]. Both Czech and Polish versions of the IPAQ-LF were processed in compliance with applicable translation requirements [25] and empirically verified in international comparative studies [14,26]. The coefficients of concurrent validity between overall weekly PA (METs-min) using the IPAQ-LF questionnaire and weekly step count (steps/week) in both versions of the questionnaire were based on Pearson's correlation coefficient in the range of r = 0.231-0.283.…”

Surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in czech children and adolescents: a scoping review of the literature from the past two decades

“…Two articles were part of adolescent survey [ 67 , 88 ], 2 articles referred to ActiTrainer accelerometer-based children study [ 65 , 94 ], 3 articles referred to ActiTrainer accelerometer-based adolescent study [ 27 , 28 , 69 ], and 2 articles were related to 15-16year adolescent study [ 68 , 90 ]. Six articles referred to adolescent study using pedometers and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [ 24 – 26 , 46 , 60 , 75 ]. Sixteen articles presented findings from independent studies [ 34 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 44 , 45 , 54 – 56 , 66 , 70 , 71 , 74 , 97 , 99 ].…”

“… Miklánková et al, 2013 [ 99 ] n = 124 6–11 years Czech Republic Device-measured (Caltrac accelerometer, Digi-walker Yamax SW-200 pedometer, hip-worn, 7 consecutive days PA (steps per day, active energy expenditure) High levels of PA were found in all segments of the day and week (except weekend days) in the 10-11-year-old children compared to the 6-9-year-old children. Mitáš et al, 2020 [ 60 ] n = 1908 59% girls 15–19 years Czech Republic Device-measured (Digi-walker Yamax SW-700 pedometer; Polar heart rate sensor) Self-reported (IPAQ-LF) PA (steps per day, MVPA) Considering average steps per day and an achievement of 11,000 steps per day, a continuous significant decrease was found between 2010 and 2017 in the adolescent girls (by 18%) and boys (by 28%). The estimates of meeting the recommended weekly PA expressed as MET-min per week were not so convincing with regard to the decrease.…”