Self-reported physical activity in European adolescents: Results from the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study

Objective: To describe self-reported physical activity (PA) patterns in the various domains (school, home, transport, leisure time) and intensity categories (walking, moderate PA, vigorous PA) in European adolescents. Furthermore, self-reported PA patterns were evaluated in relation to gender, age category, weight status category and socio-economic status (SES).Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Ten European cities.Subjects: In total, 3051 adolescents (476 % boys, mean age 148 (sd 12) years) completed an adolescent-adapted version of the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire.Results: The total sample reported most PA during leisure time (485 min/week) and least PA at home (140 min/week). Boys reported significantly more school-based PA (P < 0.001), leisure-time PA (P = 0.003), vigorous PA (P < 0.001) and total PA (P = 0.002) than girls, while girls reported more home-based PA (P < 0001) and walking (P = 0.002) than boys. Self-reported PA at school (P < 0.001), moderate PA (P < 0.001), vigorous PA (P < 0.001) and total PA (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in younger age groups than in older groups. Groups based on weight status differed significantly only in leisure-time PA (P = 0.004) and total PA (P = 0.003), while groups based on SES differed in all PA domains and intensities except transport-related PA and total PA.Conclusions: The total sample of adolescents reported different scores for the different PA domains and intensity categories. Furthermore, patterns were different according the adolescents gender, age, weight status and SES. © 2010 The Authors.

The HELENA Study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005- 007034) and the ALPHA-project in the framework of the Public Health Programme (2006120).

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