[Prevalence of physical inactivity and associated factors in adolescents].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of physical inactivity among adolescents (14-18 years) in the city of Maringá/PR and to explore its association with demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral, indicators of nutritional status variables.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 991 adolescents (54.5% girls) from both public and private high schools selected through multi stage random sampling. The level of habitual physical activity was verified through the IPAQ modified for adolescents, using the last week as a reference period. Physical inactivity was defined as <300 min/wk of moderate and vigorous physical activity. The independent variables studied were: gender, age, type of high school, socioeconomic level, smoking, sedentary behavior (> 4 h/d), nutritional status and abdominal obesity.


RESULTS
Prevalence of physical inactivity among adolescents was 56.9% (girls = 57.9%, boys = 55.7%, p =. 046). The risk factors associated with physical inactivity were belonging to the lower socioeconomic level, studying at public schools and being obese.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a high prevalence of physical inactivity in the study. It is urgently necessary to develop strategies aimed at increasing physical activity, which can be achieved by development of an educational content that promotes healthy life styles.
Moraes
Augusto César Ferreira de
AC
Programa de pós-graduação em Ciências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP.
Fernandes
Carlos Alexandre Molena
CA
Elias
Rui Gonçalves Marques
RG
Nakashima
Alika Terumi Arasaki
AT
Reichert
Felipe Fossati
FF
Falcão
Mário Cícero
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors