title: Physical activity of young people in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Region: an exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study explored the practices of, and perceived barriers to, physical activity of young people living in remote communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Far North Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey exploring physical activity practices of children attending primary and secondary schools in two communities in the Torres Strait, Far North Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 367 primary and secondary school-aged children (aged 9-16 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Only 50% of the children reported being active for more than 30 min a day and approximately 25% of both primary and high school children surveyed were 'pretty much active only at week-ends'. The major barriers cited to being active were related to the climate, lack of equipment and child-specific activities and low self-perception of ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of school students in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area reported low levels of physical activity. The main barriers cited to being active suggest that structural and family-based strategies are required to help young people, especially girls, to engage in more physical activity. There is also a need for skills and confidence-building activities delivered in a non-competitive environment for those who feel that they lack the necessary skills to participate fully.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia. rebecca@hms.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haswell-Elkins
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fell
authors.forename: Doune
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D044382:Population Groups; D011793:Queensland