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Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Relationship between vigorous physical activity and health care costs among adolescents: ABCD Growth Study
Wésley Torres1, Lucas Gabriel de Moraes Chagas2, Rômulo Araújo Fernandes2
1Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of InVestigation in Exercise - LIVE, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Roberto Simonsen Street, 305, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil. wesleytorres_wt@yahoo.com.br.
Background:
The relationship between physical activity and health care costs among adolescents is not yet clear in the literature.
Objective:
To analyze the relationship between physical activity and annual health care costs among adolescents.
Methods:
The present sample was composed of 85 adolescents of both sexes with ages ranging from 11 to 18 years (mean age 15.6 ± 2.1). Health care costs were self-reported every month for 12 months, and information on health care values was verified with local pharmacies, private health care plans, and the National Health Service. The time spent in different physical activity intensities was objectively measured by accelerometers. Confounding variables were: sex, age, somatic maturation, body fatness, blood pressure, and components of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Multivariate models were generated using generalized linear models with gamma distribution and a log-link function.
Results:
The overall annual health care cost was US$ 733.60/ R$ 2,342.38 (medication: US$ 400.46 / R$ 1,278.66; primary and secondary care: US$ 333.14 / R$ 1,063.70). The time spent in vigorous physical activity (minutes/day) was negatively related to health care costs (r = -0.342 [95% CI: -0.537,-0.139]; β = -0.06 cents (95% CI: -0.089, -0.031).
Conclusion:
Vigorous physical activity seems to be associated with lower health care costs among adolescents.
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