title: Physical activity awareness of British adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess adolescent physical activity (PA) awareness and to investigate associations with biologic and psychosocial factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study from November 1, 2005, through July 31, 2007 (the ROOTS study).
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based sample recruited from Cambridgeshire and Suffolk schools (United Kingdom).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 799 participants, 43.6% were male. The mean (SD) age was 14.5 (0.5) years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-rated PA perception, self-reported psychosocial factors, and measured anthropometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured PA with accelerometry for 5 days. Inactive was defined as less than 60 minutes per day of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) measured by accelerometry. Associations between awareness (agreement between self-rated and accelerometry-measured active/inactive) and potential correlates were investigated using multinomial logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 70.1% of adolescents were inactive (81.2% of girls and 55.8% of boys; odds ratio [OR], 3.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.41-4.82). There were 52.6% of all girls (64.8% of inactive girls) and 33.6% of all boys (60.3% of inactive boys) who inaccurately rated themselves as active (overestimators). Compared with girls accurately describing themselves as inactive (28.6%), girl overestimators had lower fat mass (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70-0.99), higher socioeconomic status (high vs low OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.07-5.32), more parent support (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.12-2.22), and better family relationships (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.09- 0.67). Among boys accurately describing themselves as inactive (22.1%), overestimators had lower fat mass (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.96) and reported more peer support (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.32-2.30) and less teasing (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial number of adolescents believe themselves to be more physically active than they really are. They may be unaware of potential health risks and unlikely to participate in PA promotion programs. Increasing information of PA health benefits beyond weight control might encourage behavior change.
authors: Centre for Diet and Activity Research, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR, United Kingdom. klc29@medschl.cam.ac.uk
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Corder
authors: Esther M F
authors: EM
authors: van Sluijs
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Goodyer
authors: Charlotte L
authors: CL
authors: Ridgway
authors: Rebekah M
authors: RM
authors: Steele
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Bamber
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Dunn
authors: Simon J
authors: SJ
authors: Griffin
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Ekelund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D009043:Motor Activity; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom