Factors predicting changes in physical activity through adolescence: the Young-HUNT Study, Norway

Area of Science:

• Adolescent health
• Behavioral science
• Public health

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) levels often change during adolescence.
• Understanding predictors of these changes is crucial for public health initiatives.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated gender-specific factors influencing adolescent PA trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of changes in physical activity (PA) levels from early to late adolescence.
• To analyze gender differences in factors influencing PA maintenance and adoption.
• To inform the development of targeted PA interventions for adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, population-based study involving 2,348 adolescents and their parents.
• Data collected through self-reported questionnaires and clinical examinations (height, weight).
• Longitudinal analysis of PA patterns from baseline (1995-1997) to follow-up (2000-2001).

Main Results:

• Four PA patterns identified: active maintainers (13%), inactive maintainers (59%), adopters (12%), and relapsers (16%).
• For boys, overweight, life dissatisfaction, and lack of sports participation predicted PA changes.
• For girls, smoking, drinking, low maternal education, and inactivity predicted PA decline. Parental education and PA levels protected against decreased PA in both genders.

Conclusions:

• Predictors of PA change and maintenance in adolescence are gender-specific.
• Interventions should be tailored by gender to promote PA in inactive adolescents and maintain PA in active ones.
• Addressing factors like socioeconomic status and lifestyle behaviors is key for effective PA promotion.