Physical inactivity behaviour of European adolescents between 2013 and 2022

Adolescents in the European Union (EU) are classified as physically inactive (PIA) when not meeting at least 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) every day of the week. However, the diversity in MVPA engagement among those deemed inactive has received limited attention, despite potential differences in associated health risks.

To analyse changes in physical inactivity patterns among EU adolescents (2013-2022), by gender.

Self-reported MVPA and gender data of EU adolescents (≤ 18 years) were obtained from the three latest Eurobarometer surveys on physical activity (2013, 2017, and 2022). Four non-mutually exclusive dichotomous thresholds of physical inactivity were created (meeting vs. not meeting) based on the number of days per week with ≥ 60 min of MVPA: "Totally inactive" (0 days), "Very inactive" (< 3 days), "Quite inactive" (< 5 days), and "Inactive" (< 7 days). Chi-square tests with adjusted residuals were used to compare the PIA levels across years. Z-tests for two proportions were used to assess gender differences within each category and year.

In all years, most adolescents were classified as inactive (> 60%). No differences among years were reported for the totally inactive threshold (~ 15%; p > 0.05). A significant decline in the prevalence of very inactive, quite inactive, and inactive adolescents was observed in 2022 (p < 0.05). Girls consistently reported higher PIA levels than boys across all categories, except for the totally inactive threshold.

Further effort to reduce the physical inactivity engagement of EU adolescents is needed.