Gender influences physical activity changes during adolescence: The HELENA study.

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Physical Activity Research
• Puberty and Development

Background:

• Understanding physical activity (PA) differences across pubertal stages is crucial for adolescent health.
• Gender-specific variations in PA during puberty require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare physical activity levels between pre/mid-pubertal and post-pubertal adolescents, stratified by gender.

Main Methods:

• 1842 adolescents (12.5-17.4 years) from the HELENA study wore accelerometers for 7 days.
• Pubertal status was determined by physical examination (Tanner stages 1-3 vs. 4-5).
• PA was analyzed across different times of day and week, comparing pubertal groups by gender.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in total PA was found between pre/mid-pubertal and post-pubertal girls.
• Post-pubertal boys exhibited 17.6% less PA on school-free days compared to pre/mid-pubertal boys.
• Boys showed a 20% reduction in PA during school recesses in the post-pubertal group versus the pre/mid-pubertal group.

Conclusions:

• Reduced physical activity in post-pubertal adolescents is primarily observed in boys during non-structured times.
• These findings highlight gender-specific patterns of physical activity decline during puberty.