Physical Activity and Body-Mass-Index: Do Family, Friends and Teachers Restrain the Risk for Physical Inactivity in Adolescents?

Denise Renninger,Yolanda Demetriou,David Joseph Sturm,Stevo Popovic,Bojan Masanovic,Jovan Gardasevic,Miguel Peralta,Adilson Marques

doi:10.3390/su13136992

Abstract

Background: The present study investigates the role of different sources of social support in the relationship of BMI and PA in an international sample of children and adolescents. Methods: Data included 170,211 adolescents (51.5% female), aged 10–16 (M = 13.6, SD = 1.64) from 37 European countries/regions and were retrieved from the 2013/14 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) international database. Results: PA levels in adolescents are lower for girls, decrease with age, and are lower for overweight and obese adolescents compared to underweight and normal-weight adolescents. Peer support and teacher support significantly predict PA (ORpeer = 1.11; ORteacher = 0.97) and vigorous PA frequency (ORpeer = 1.13; ORteacher = 0.94). Family support only affected vigorous PA frequency (OR = 1.03). Family support had a moderating effect on PA in overweight (ORfamily*BMI(overweight) = 0.94) and obese (ORfamily*BMI(obese) = 0.90) adolescents. Peer support had a moderating effect on vigorous PA frequency in obese (ORpeer*BMI(obese) = 1.08) adolescents. Teacher support had a moderating effect on PA (ORteacher*BMI(normal) = 1.05; ORteacher*BMI(overweight) = 1.09) and vigorous PA frequency (ORteacher*BMI(normal) = 1.07; ORteacher*BMI(overweight) = 1.08) in normal-weight and overweight adolescents. Conclusion: Social support helps adolescents to be active. Especially for obese adolescents, support by and relations with peers are important to reach a significant amount of PA.

Highlights

Physical activity (PA) in childhood and adolescence is associated with several beneficial health outcomes [1]
Considering the lack of evidence, this study aims to examine the role of different sources of social support in the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and PA in an international sample of children and adolescents
The data reveal, that every fifth adolescent (20.0%) in Europe aged from 10–16 years meets the World Health Organization (WHO) PA guideline

Summary

Introduction

Physical activity (PA) in childhood and adolescence is associated with several beneficial health outcomes [1]. Marques and colleagues observed, that in an international sample of 167,021 children and adolescents aged 10–16 years, those who engaged in daily PA reported greater subjective health in measures like headaches, stomachaches, backache, dizziness, feeling low, irritability, nervousness, and sleep difficulties [3]. The present study investigates the role of different sources of social support in the relationship of BMI and PA in an international sample of children and adolescents. Vigorous PA frequency (ORpeer = 1.13; ORteacher = 0.94). Support had a moderating effect on PA in overweight (ORfamily*BMI(overweight) = 0.94) and obese (ORfamily*BMI(obese) = 0.90) adolescents. Peer support had a moderating effect on vigorous PA frequency in obese (ORpeer*BMI(obese) = 1.08) adolescents. Teacher support had a moderating effect on PA (ORteacher*BMI(normal) = 1.05; ORteacher*BMI(overweight) = 1.09)

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