[A longitudinal study of physical exercise practice in children. The influence of age, gender and socioeconomic level. The Working Group on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood and Adolescence].
OBJECTIVE
Physical exercise is recommended in order to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
A longitudinal study was carried out. During the periods of 1989-1990 an 1995-1996, a questionnaire concerning extrascholastic physical exercise was given to 345 children of both sexes (188 males and 157 females), classifying them into two groups according to their parents' socioeconomical status.


RESULTS
We found and increase in the number of schoolchildren who did physical exercise (initial 17.97% and final 44.34%) in both sexes and both socioeconomical groups, as well as in the number of hours per week they spent exercising. Boys did physical exercise more frequently (initial study: 27.89% versus 13.37%, final study: 52.65% vs 40.86%) and they spent more hours per week than did girls. The same behavior was observed in the group of higher socioeconomical status. The probability of men doing physical exercise with respect to women was found to be statistically significant (initial study: p < 0.001, final study: p < 0.05), as well as in logistical regression between the non-performance of physical exercise and socioeconomical status (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this longitudinal study it was found that with age there is an increment in the practice of physical exercise and in the hours spent on it. It was also found that males and individuals with a higher socioeconomical status do more physical exercise than females and those with a lower socioeconomical status.
Sánchez Bayle
M
M
Hospital del Niño Jesús, Madrid.
Aranguren Jiménez
A
A
Cabello Gómez
P
P
Huertas Sevillano
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Estudio longitudinal de la práctica de ejercicio físico en niños. Influencia de la edad, el género y el nivel socioeconómico. Grupo de Trabajo sobre Factores de Riesgo Cardiovascular en la Infancia y Adolescencia.