Adolescent physical activities as predictors of young adult weight.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between increased physical activity in adolescence and adult weight status.


METHODS
Cohort study based on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.


METHODS
In-home interviews.


METHODS
A total of 3345 adolescents in grades 8 to 12 with body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) data available at baseline and 5 years later. Main Exposures Days per week of curricular and extracurricular physical activity.


METHODS
Overweight status (body mass index > or =25) 5 years after baseline.


RESULTS
Increasing participation in certain extracurricular physical activities and physical education decreased the likelihood of young adulthood overweight. Regarding extracurricular physical activities, the likelihood of being an overweight adult was reduced most (ie, 48%) by performing certain wheel-related activities (ie, rollerblading, roller skating, skateboarding, or bicycling) more than 4 times per week. Each weekday that adolescents participated in physical education decreased the odds of being an overweight adult by 5%, with participation in all 5 weekdays of physical education decreasing the odds by 28%. In general, physical activity predicted normal-weight maintenance better than weight loss.


CONCLUSIONS
These data underscore the important role that school-based and extracurricular physical activity play in reducing the likelihood of transitioning to overweight as young adults.
Menschik
David
D
Preventive Medicine Residency, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Ahmed
Saifuddin
S
Alexander
Miriam H
MH
Blum
Robert Wm
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology