Citation

Langlois KA, Birkett N, Garner R, O'Loughlin J. J. Phys. Act. Health 2012; 9(8): 1146-1154.

Affiliation

Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22207200

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the benefits of physical activity, many Canadian adolescents are inactive and rates of inactivity increase with age. Few studies describe the pattern of change in physical activity as a function of age during adolescence. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study. The analytic sample included 1206 adolescents who completed a seven-day physical activity recall up to four times per year over five years. Individual growth models, analyzed using multilevel models for change, were developed separately by sex controlling for season. RESULTS: Physical activity levels through adolescence were best described by a cubic function. Levels increased from age 12 to a peak at approximately age 13.5, decreased to age 16.5, and increased again to age 17. Activity participation was highest in the spring and lowest during fall and winter. Substantial within- and between-subject heterogeneity in the trajectories was evident. CONCLUSION: Adolescent physical activity follows a complex, curvilinear pattern in both males and females, with considerable variation within- and between-persons.

Language: en