Physical activity, health, BMI and body complaints in high school students

• AIM: Children and adolescents in the industrial world are becoming lessphysically active and are adopting a sedentary lifestyle in front of computersand TV. The aim of the present investigation was to determine self-relatedhealth, physical activity, prevalence of overweight and body complaints inhigh school students in Norway, and to compare students in academicprograms with those in vocational programs. METHODS: Seven hundred andtwo high school students aged 16-19 years were included in the study. Aquestionnaire was completed in three high schools and included questionsabout weight and height, health, physical activity, type of physicalactivity/sport, intensity, possible injuries or complaints during the last threemonths. RESULTS: Twenty three percent of the students suffers fromoverweight/obesity are at risk of being overweight. Males reported betterhealth than females (P<0.02). Sixty-six percent of the study group reportedbody complaints during the last three months, a higher number of femalesthan males (P=0.001). Students in vocational programs reported poorer selfrelatedhealth than those in academic programs and the males reportedbetter self-related health generally than females. Furthermore, there were ahigher level of prevalence of overweight students in vocational programsthan academic programs (P=0.039). CONCLUSION: It is important to make iteasy for school children and adolescents to do physical activity at school andduring leisure time in order to prevent overweight and obesity as well aschronic diseases later in life.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Idrottsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Sport and Fitness Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Physical activity

Health

Overweight

Body complaints

Caring sciences

Vårdvetenskap

Sport Science

Idrottsvetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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