[Physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescent high school students].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the prevalence of factors associated with insufficient physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among adolescents.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study 4,210 students (14-19 years old) attending public high-schools were selected using random two-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected by using the Global School-based Student Health Survey. Subjects who reported performing 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days a week or more were classified as physically active, while the remainder was classified as insufficiently active. Subjects who reported watching TV three or more hours a day were considered to be exposed to sedentary behavior. Analyses were carried out by using Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression.


RESULTS
The prevalence of insufficiently active subjects was 65.1% (CI95% 63.7-66.6). Gender, place of residence (rural/urban), time of day attending school, occupational status, and enrollment in physical education were identified as factors significantly associated with exposure to insufficient levels of physical activity. Prevalence of exposure to sedentary behavior was 40.9% (CI95% 39.4-42.4) on week days and 49.9% (CI95% 48.4-51.4) on weekend days. Place of residence, time of day attending school, occupational status and enrollment in physical education were identified as factors significantly associated with exposure to sedentary behavior on week days, whereas on weekend days exposure to sedentary behavior was related to gender, age and time of day attending school.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a high prevalence of insufficient physical activity levels and exposure to sedentary behaviors among adolescents.
Tenório
Maria Cecília Marinho
MC
Programa de Pós-graduação em Hebiatri, Universidade de Pernambuco. mariaceciliatenorio@gmail.com
Barros
Mauro Virgilio Gomes de
MV
Tassitano
Rafael Miranda
RM
Bezerra
Jorge
J
Tenório
Juliana Marinho
JM
Hallal
Pedro Curi
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult