Secular trends: a ten-year comparison of the amount and type of physical activity and inactivity of random samples of adolescents in the Czech Republic

Abstract

BackgroundAn optimal level of physical activity (PA) in adolescence influences the level of PA in adulthood. Although PA declines with age have been demonstrated repeatedly, few studies have been carried out on secular trends. The present study assessed levels, types and secular trends of PA and sedentary behaviour of a sample of adolescents in the Czech Republic.MethodsThe study comprised two cross-sectional cohorts of adolescents ten years apart. The analysis compared data collected through a week-long monitoring of adolescents' PA in 1998-2000 and 2008-2010. Adolescents wore either Yamax SW-701 or Omron HJ-105 pedometer continuously for 7 days (at least 10 hours per day) excluding sleeping, hygiene and bathing. They also recorded their number of steps per day, the type and duration of PA and sedentary behaviour (in minutes) on record sheets. In total, 902 adolescents (410 boys; 492 girls) aged 14-18 were eligible for analysis.ResultsOverweight and obesity in Czech adolescents participating in this study increased from 5.5% (older cohort, 1998-2000) to 10.4% (younger cohort, 2008-2010). There were no inter-cohort significant changes in the total amount of sedentary behaviour in boys. However in girls, on weekdays, there was a significant increase in the total duration of sedentary behaviour of the younger cohort (2008-2010) compared with the older one (1998-2000). Studying and screen time (television and computer) were among the main sedentary behaviours in Czech adolescents. The types of sedentary behaviour also changed: watching TV (1998-2000) was replaced by time spent on computers (2008-2010).The Czech health-related criterion (achieving 11,000 steps per day) decreased only in boys from 68% (1998-2000) to 55% (2008-2010). Across both genders, 55%-75% of Czech adolescents met the health-related criterion of recommended steps per day, however less participants in the younger cohort (2008-2010) met this criterion than in the older cohort (1998-2000) ten years ago. Adolescents' PA levels for the monitored periods of 1998-2000 and 2008-2010 suggest a secular decrease in the weekly number of steps achieved by adolescent boys and girls.ConclusionIn the younger cohort (2008-2010), every tenth adolescent was either overweight or obese; roughly twice the rate when compared to the older cohort (1998-2000). Sedentary behaviour seems relatively stable across the two cohorts as the increased time that the younger cohort (2008-2010) spent on computers is compensated with an equally decreased time spent watching TV or studying. Across both cohorts about half to three quarters of the adolescents met the health-related criterion for achieved number of steps. The findings show a secular decrease in PA amongst adolescents. The significant interaction effects (cohort × age; and cohort × gender) that this study found suggested that secular trends in PA differ by age and gender.

Trends in Screen Time Behaviours in Czech Schoolchildren between 2002 and 2014: HBSC Study.

“…In addition, these results are limited and vary between countries (23)(24)(25)(26)(27). Some studies reported a consistent amount of the total time spent sitting in front of a television or a computer, and they reveal that the time spent watching television was replaced by time spent using a computer (28,29). Other studies found an increase in the time spent sitting in front of a television or computer (30)(31)(32).…”

Energy balance and obesity: a UK perspective on the gluttonyv.sloth debate

“…A 2005 review of evidence on sedentariness, fitness and attitudes concluded that physical activity in clearly defined contexts, active transport, school physical education and organised sports was declining in many countries (37) . In a study involving two 10-year-separated cross-sectional cohorts of Czech adolescents in 2000 and 2010 the doubling in obesity was accompanied by an increase in total sedentary behaviour, especially in girls, and a switch from TV watching to computer games (38) .…”

Gender differences in preferences of individual and team sports in Polish adolescents

“…Since girls are less physically active than boys (Aze vedo, Araujo, Da Silva, & Hallal, 2007;Kjønniksen, Torsheim, & Wold, 2008;Sigmundová, El Ansari, Sigmund, & Frömel, 2011), it is more than important to understand the specifi cs of PA in girls (but also boys) and their preferences. Understanding these specifi cs can increase the effectiveness of potential interventions in physical programs (school, public) that were created in attempt to support PA in children and adolescents (Pate et al, 2010).…”