How active are American adolescents and have they become less active?

  1. S. Li1,2,
  2. M. S. Treuth1,3,
  3. Y. Wang1,*

Article first published online: 27 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00685.x

Issue

Obesity Reviews

Obesity Reviews

Volume 11, Issue 12, pages 847–862, December 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Li, S., Treuth, M. S. and Wang, Y. (2010), How active are American adolescents and have they become less active?. Obesity Reviews, 11: 847–862. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00685.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA;

  2. 2

    Department of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao University Medical School, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China;

  3. 3

    Department of Physical Therapy, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, USA

*Youfa Wang, Associate Professor, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. E-mail: ywang@jhsph.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 27 OCT 2009
  3. Received 29 May 2009; revised 15 September 2009; accepted 21 September 2009

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Keywords:

  • Adolescent;
  • physical activity;
  • trend;
  • USA

Summary

The aim of this study was to systematically examine patterns and time trends in US adolescents' physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours. We examined findings from the nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Surveys during 1991–2007, and fit regression models estimating average annual changes and tested time trends, and age, gender and ethnic differences. US adolescents had less PA but more sedentary behaviours than recommended, but showed no clear evidence of becoming less active. In 2007, 24.9% reported on average spending ≥3 h of screen time per day for non-school work; only 34.7% met the current PA recommendations, and it (25.6%) was even lower in girls. The prevalence of having sufficient vigorous PA changed little between 1993 and 2005 (from 65.8% to 64.1%). Encouraging changes regarding TV viewing time and physical education (PE) were detected. PE daily attendance rate and exercising >20 min during an average PE class increased significantly, while watching TV ≥3 h d−1 decreased significantly in recent years. Considerable sex, age and ethnic differences existed in the patterns and trends. These national data show no clear evidence of declining PA among US adolescents in recent years. Reduced PA is not likely the major explanation of the recent increase in obesity among US adolescents.

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