Abstract
Physical inactivity is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of socio demographic factors, weight status, body adiposity and sedentary behavior with the practice of walking and moderate and vigorous physical activity in adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 631 adolescents (413 girls) aged 14-17 years. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Boys showed longer time of practice of walking and vigorous activity than girls. Adolescents of high economic level were more involved in vigorous activities. Overweight girls and adolescents showed, respectively, 98 and 138 minutes/week less of practice of walking when compared to boys and normal-weight adolescents. Adolescents with high body adiposity had 100 minutes/week more of practice of walking in relation to adolescents with normal adiposity. In relation to vigorous activity, girls showed 198 minutes/week less when compared to boys. The association of factors investigated in this study with the practice of physical activity in adolescents varies according to the type and intensity of the activity performed.
Highlights
Technological progress contributes to the improvement of people’s quality of life, and leads to the appearance of numerous cardiovascular and metabolic diseases that entail a series of risks to health[1]
Study conducted with runners and walking practitioners, whose objective was to verify the effect of different exercise types and intensity on cardiovascular risk factors, revealed that both groups showed a reduction in the risk of arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, i.e. both moderate and vigorous intensity produced similar reductions in the risk of cardiovascular diseases[9]
It is possible to observe that male adolescents had higher practice in walking (p= 0.014) and vigorous physical activity (p< 0.001) in relation to female adolescents
Summary
Technological progress contributes to the improvement of people’s quality of life, and leads to the appearance of numerous cardiovascular and metabolic diseases that entail a series of risks to health[1]. The reduction of the amount of physical activity and the adoption of sedentary habits have been considered a public health problem, being the fourth leading cause of mortality worldwide as a result of sedentary lifestyle[2]. Physical inactivity has substantially increased the relative incidence of coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, colon and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis[7]. The practice of physical activity, regardless of type and intensity, brings benefits to health[8]. Results found by Jeon et al.[10] showed that the adherence to recommendations to participate in moderate-intensity physical activities such as walking can substantially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus
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