Tracking of Physical Activity, Sport Participation, and Sedentary Behaviors over Four Years of High School

Hrvoje Podnar,Maroje Sorić,Lovro Štefan,Vilko Petrić,Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković,Antonela Devrnja

doi:10.3390/su10093104

Hrvoje Podnar, Maroje Sorić + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093104

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Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent of tracking of physical activity (PA), sports participation (SP), and sedentary behaviors (SB) over four years of high school education among the Croatian Physical Activity in Adolescence Longitudinal Study (CRO-PALS) cohort. Methods: In this investigation, participants were 844 high school students (15.6 years at baseline; 49% girls). The SHAPES questionnaire was used to assess PA, SP, and SB at ages 15, 16, 17, and 18 and tracking was assessed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Tracking coefficients for PA were similar in both sexes, ranged from 0.49 to 0.61, and indicated moderate tracking, while the tracking of SB tended to be somewhat higher over the four years of follow-up (β = 0.60–0.72). Youth that participated in sports at baseline had a 16 to 28 times higher odds of continued participation at follow-up, depending on the type of sport and gender. Finally, both low physical activity and high screen time showed strong tracking in both genders. Conclusion: PA and SB tracked moderately between ages 15 and 18. Moreover, the strong tracking of low PA and high screen time indicates that the detection of these risk factors at the beginning of high school should be advocated.

Highlights

Physical inactivity is considered to be one of the most important public health concerns globally [1]
The main results of the study include: (a) physical activity (PA) showed moderate tracking across all intensities, while the tracking of sedentary behaviors (SB) was slightly higher, and could be interpreted as moderate to high; (b) the least active adolescents and those who spent the most time in front of the screens at year 1 were 12 and times more likely to remain inactive and of exhibiting high screen time over four years of follow-up compared to their more active peers, respectively; (c) youth who participated in sport in school and outside of school at baseline were to 28 times more likely to participate in sports throughout high school compared to children who were not involved in organized sport at the beginning of high school
The fact that both low PA and high screen time tracked well indicates that the detection of these risk behaviors in the first grade of high school should be advocated

Summary

Introduction

Physical inactivity is considered to be one of the most important public health concerns globally [1]. Sedentary behavior (SB) has been linked with an increased risk of mortality, independent of leisure-time physical activity (PA) [2]. In children, both low PA and high SB independently relate to adverse health outcomes [3,4]. Youth that participated in sports at baseline had a 16 to 28 times higher odds of continued participation at follow-up, depending on the type of sport and gender. Both low physical activity and high screen time showed strong tracking in both genders. The strong tracking of low PA and high screen time indicates that the detection of these risk factors at the beginning of high school should be advocated

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