IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CORRELATES IN THE ISOLATED AND COMBINED PRESENCE OF INSUFFICIENT LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HIGH SCREEN TIME AMONG ADOLESCENTS.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the impact of physical activity correlates with the isolated and combined presence of insufficient physical activity and high screen time among adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional representative study was carried out with a sample of 786 adolescents (16.0±1.0 years; 53.9% girls) randomly selected in the schools of São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Southern Brazil. The physical activity correlates analyzed were sex, nutritional status, economic class and sexual maturation. Physical activity level and screen time were measured and classified according to reference criteria. The associations were tested with Poisson regression and the population attributable fraction (PAF) verified the impact of correlates on the combined presence of insufficient level of physical activity and high screen time by the prevalence ratio (PR).

RESULTS

Among the studied adolescents, 84.7% (n=666) were considered insufficiently active, 96.4% (n=758) reported high screen time and 82.1% (n=645) presented the combined presence of these behaviors. The female sex and the high economic status were positively associated with the insufficient level of physical activity (PR=1.19; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 1.12-1.27; PAF=15.97 - female/adjusted; PR=1,1; 95%CI 1,01-1,19; PAF=9,09 - high/adjusted class). The female sex also was positively associated to high screen time after adjustments (PR=1.18; 95%CI 1.10-1.27; PAF=15.25). The female sex was positively associated with the combined presence of these behaviors (PR=1.18; 95%CI 1.10-1.27) with a 15.25% impact on these behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity correlates can have an impact on the insufficient level of physical activity and high screen time, especially among girls.