Public health | 2021
Association between physical activity and leisure-time sedentary behavior among 140,808 adolescents aged 12 to 15 from 47 low- and middle-income countries.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES\nData from high-income countries (HICs) indicate that sedentary behavior is negatively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in young people. We examined associations between leisure-time sedentary behavior (LTSB) and MVPA in adolescents from 47 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).\n\n\nSTUDY DESIGN\nCross-sectional study.\n\n\nMETHODS\nData from the Global school-based Student Health Survey were analyzed in 140,808 adolescents (13.8\xa0±\xa01.0 years; 49% girls). Time spent in LTSB was a composite variable assessing time spent sitting and playing computer games, watching TV, talking with friends during a typical day. The PACE\xa0+\xa0Adolescent Physical Activity Measure assessed MVPA levels. The association between ≥3\xa0h/day of LTSB and adequate physical activity levels (every day last week 60\xa0min MVPA) was explored with multivariable logistic regression analyses.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe prevalence of ≥3\xa0h/day of LTSB and 60\xa0min of MVPA/day last week were 26.3% (girls 26.2%; boys 26.5%) and 15.3% (girls 12.1%; boys 18.4%), respectively. LTSB of ≥3\xa0h/day versus <3\xa0h/day was associated with a 35% increased odds for adequate levels of MVPA in boys [OR\xa0=\xa01.35 (95%CI\xa0=\xa01.23-1.48)] and 22% in girls [1.22 (95%CI\xa0=\xa01.10-1.36)].\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nOur data indicate that being physically active 60\xa0min per day every day and at moderate-to-vigorous intensity and being sedentary ≥3\xa0h/day during leisure-time might co-exist in adolescents in some LMICs.