Prevalence of physical activity through the practice of sports among adolescents from Portuguese speaking countries

This study evaluated the prevalence of physical activity through the practice of sports in adolescents from schools in two Brazilian cities and a Portuguese school, and its association with independent variables, such as gender and age. A cross-sectional study was conducted of schoolchildren from tw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ciência & saude coletiva 2015-04, Vol.20 (4), p.1199-1206
Main Authors: Christofaro, Diego Giulliano Destro, Fernandes, Rômulo Araújo, Martins, Catarina, Ronque, Enio Ricardo Vaz, Coelho-e-Silva, Manuel João, Silva, Analiza Mônica, Sardinha, Luis Bettencourt, Cyrino, Edilson Serpeloni
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Brazil
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Portugal
Public health
PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Sports
Sports - statistics & numerical data
Teenagers
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Summary:This study evaluated the prevalence of physical activity through the practice of sports in adolescents from schools in two Brazilian cities and a Portuguese school, and its association with independent variables, such as gender and age. A cross-sectional study was conducted of schoolchildren from two cities in Brazil and one in Portugal. The total study sample was 3694 subjects (1622 males and 1872 females). Physical activity levels were assessed using Baecke's questionnaire. Body weight was measured on electronic scales and stature was measured with a portable wooden stadiometer. Numerical variables were expressed as mean, categorical variables were expressed as percentages and the chi-square test analyzed associations. The prevalence of no sport was high (39.7%), being higher in the Portuguese school than in the Brazilian schools (p < 0.001). Irrespective of being an adolescent in a Brazilian or Portuguese school, boys showed higher engagement in sports practice than girls (p < 0.001). In both, differences were identified between adolescents aged 13 to 15 (P = 0.001) and 16 to 17 (P = 0.001). The prevalence of physical inactivity among schoolchildren from two cities in Brazil and a school in Portugal was high, with the girls practicing less sport than the boys and with this imbalance likely to be higher in adolescents.
ISSN:1413-8123
1678-4561
1678-4561
1413-8123
DOI:10.1590/1413-81232015204.00692014