Abstract
Childhood and adolescence are important life periods for the development of health status and physical activity (PA) behaviours. This study analyses the stability and potential changes of self-rated health status, overweight and PA behaviour over time, specifically focusing on the age and the socioeconomic status of children and adolescents. We employ representative longitudinal data for German children and adolescents from the Motorik-Modul Study and the German Health Interview and Examination Survey. Using four different dichotomous health status and PA indicators (self-rated health status [SRHS]; overweight; moderate-to-vigorous PA; and leisure sports engagement), we report within-person transition rates across the panel waves when the survey was taken (2003–2006, 2009–2012, and 2014–2017). Additionally, we report results of logistic regressions estimating the impact of children's age, gender, migration background, and their parents' socioeconomic status on these transition rates. The transition rates show mixed results. While children and adolescents from highly problematic states reporting bad SRHS and no leisure sports engagement at an early stage tend to improve later on, overweight children mostly stay overweight. Age and social inequality indicators correlate with some of the chances of improving or worsening the health and PA states. Most clearly, high parental status prevents the health status and PA from worsening over all transitions, particularly becoming overweight, representing a ratchet effect. The results of the present study underline that health policy needs to target specific groups to reduce social inequality in the health status and PA of children and adolescents.
Highlights
Childhood and adolescence have been shown to be important life periods for the development of behavioural patterns and habits, including health-related behaviours such as regular physical activity (PA) (Viner et al, 2015)
While moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) does not change over points of measurement the proportion of children and adolescent not engaging in leisure sports at all increases from 16 percent to 20 percent
The present study reveals complex longitudinal changes in health status and PA behaviour during childhood and adolescence
Summary
Childhood and adolescence have been shown to be important life periods for the development of behavioural patterns and habits, including health-related behaviours such as regular physical activity (PA) (Viner et al, 2015). Changes of Self-Rated Health Status adaptation to new circumstances (Nelson et al, 2008; Pearson et al, 2017). In this way, new behavioural patterns, like changes in PA or dietary habits, can be formed and established. PA and health in the early stages of life are known to influence PA and health in adulthood (Trudeau et al, 2004; Craigie et al, 2011; Simmonds et al, 2016; Batista et al, 2019). It is important to promote an active and healthy lifestyle in the early stages of life to foster health and prevent diseases over the lifespan. Understanding how PA patterns and health track from childhood to adulthood can help reach this goal
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