title: Patterns and correlates of physical activity in adolescents in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the widely acknowledged public health importance of physical activity (PA), few studies have examined levels of PA in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns and correlates of PA in adolescents in Bangladesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 798 students, aged 13-17 years; 48% girls, from eight purposively selected secondary schools in Dhaka city, Bangladesh completed a self-administered questionnaire including the 3-Day PA Recall. Parents completed a separate questionnaire to provide household/family-level data. Multilevel generalized linear modelling was used to identify the correlates of PA for boys and girls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds (66%) of the adolescents met the recommendations of 60 min/day of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) daily, with more boys than girls (76% and 55%, respectively). The most common activities reported were walking for travel (42%), cricket (33%) and household chores (30%). Multivariable modelling showed that girls' PA was positively associated with mother's education level, walking to school, involvement in school sports and having home sports equipment. Boys' PA was positively associated with mother's employment, having home sports equipment, having a playground at school and walking to school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One third of adolescents in Bangladesh were insufficiently active with girls less active than boys. Walking to school and access to sports facilities including playgrounds and home equipment may be important to promote activity among Bangladeshi adolescents, with special attention to the girls.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Trost
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001459:Bangladesh; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking
keywords: Adolescents; Bangladesh; Children; Physical activity/exercise