Physical Education and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Youth Are Both Important for Adulthood Activity, Physical Performance, and Health

Abstract

Background: The importance of youth physical activity (PA) for adulthood PA, performance, and health was retrospectively evaluated. Methods: A total of 258,146 participants (49% women), aged 19-70, with a first-time health-profile assessment between 1982 and 2015, provided self-reported data on current perceived health, PA, lifestyle, and physical education class participation, and PA outside school hours before age 20. Data on anthropometrics, blood pressure, and estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) were obtained. Results: Women participating in physical education class, compared with those who did not, had significantly lower OR (range: 0.81-0.87) for perceiving poor overall health, general obesity, and high diastolic blood pressure after adjustment for potential confounders, and increased OR (range: 1.17-1.23) for exercising regularly and a normal/high VO 2max in adulthood. For men, the ORs were significantly lower (range: 0.66-0.86) for poor perceived overall health, general, and abdominal obesity. These associations were seen for participants up to 70 years. Increased PA outside school hours revealed even stronger beneficial associations. In joint analyses, both youth and current PA were important for lower OR of poor health and being obese in adulthood. Conclusions: Physical education class participation and additional PA after school hours were both important for perceived health, PA, VO 2max , and metabolic health in adulthood up to 70 years.

Latent profile analysis patterns of exercise, sitting and fitness in adults – Associations with metabolic risk factors, perceived health, and perceived symptoms

“…This question has previously shown predictive validity for exercise level, fitness and health later in life [22]. Dietary habits were obtained using the statement I consider my diet, regarding both meal frequency and nutritional content to be .…”

Effect of a Game-Based Physical Education Program on Physical Fitness and Mental Health in Elementary School Children

“…For instance, Appelqvist-Schmidlechner et al [18] highlight that engaging in sports in childhood is associated with lower risk of developing mental health issues in adulthood. Ekblom-Bak et al [19] found that kids who participated in both in-and out-of-school exercise showed reduced incidence of metabolic diseases later in life, as well as higher engagement in healthy active behaviors, and better fitness. The relationship between physical fitness and PA levels is supported in previous research as well [20].…”

Effectiveness of a Family Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Disadvantaged Areas—A Healthy Generation, a Controlled Pilot Study

“…There is evidence to suggest that health-related behaviors [17,18] and obesity track to a certain degree from childhood to adolescence and adulthood [19], which in later life may result in serious health consequences, such as metabolic disturbances, type 2-diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and impaired mobility [20]. Importantly, studies have also shown that children who have a physically active lifestyle keep an active lifestyle into adulthood [21,22]. Therefore, interventions should start at an early age.…”