Sex-Stratified Trends in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines, Participating in Sports, and Attending Physical Education Among US Adolescents, Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2009–2019

Abstract

Background: During the past decade, guidelines for youth aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity remained unchanged. Active People, Healthy NationSM highlighted school and youth strategies (eg, sports and physical education [PE]) to increase physical activity. Sex, grade, and race/ethnicity disparities exist. This study examines sex-specific trends and differences by grade and race/ethnicity for the prevalence of 5 youth physical activity behaviors from 2009 to 2019. Methods: The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey assesses adolescents (grades 9–12) meeting the aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and both guidelines (2011–2019) and sports participation and daily PE (2009–2019). Sex-stratified logistic regression assessed trends and 2009 or 2011–2019 differences by grade and racial/ethnic subgroups. Results: Decreases in meeting the aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and both guidelines were observed for nearly all male subgroups by grade and race/ethnicity, whereas female subgroups exhibited declines or no change to low prevalence. Sports and PE participation remained mostly constant; select subgroups showed decreases (ie, Hispanic males [sports]; Black males and ninth-grade females [PE]). Conclusions: Past decade prevalence and patterns suggest that school-based and other strategies for all adolescents and tailored interventions for sex-specific subgroups may be needed to supplement sports and PE in promoting high school youth physical activity.

Analysis of Adolescent Physical Activity Levels and Their Relationship with Body Image and Nutritional Habits

“…Considering the first of the objectives, high levels of physical activity were observed in our sample of adolescents, unlike other studies that found a decrease in it at this stage of life [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Likewise, the HELENA study that measured the level of physical activity and time spent in a sedentary manner in adolescents from nine European countries observed, as in this research, that those who carried out moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity had high cardiorespiratory fitness and spent less time on sedentary activities, but most adolescents spent most of their time displaying sedentary behavior [ 33 ].…”

Trends in sports participation in adolescents: Data from a large-scale sample in the US adolescents

“…This research suggested that an overall decline in overall sports participation was observed in adolescents between 2011 and 2019, which was inconsistent with two previous studies ( 22 , 23 ). For example, a stable increasing trend of sports participation was seen in Icelandic adolescents ( 24 ).…”

“…These two studies are inconsistent with our research findings. Several explanations might contribute to the difference between the current research and the previous studies, such as the sports opportunities, facilities, and sports policies (22). As the current study merely reported secular trends of sport participation over the past years in adolescents, there was no other information on better understanding or further explaining the trends, future studies based on the contexts and backgrounds should be put forward for reversing this declining trend.…”

BMI and Physical Activity, Military-Aged U.S. Population 2015–2020

“…23 Adolescent physical activity has also decreased. 22,24 Meanwhile, more adults aged 18−44 years are meeting the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines in leisure time, but the 2018 prevalence remained below 25%. 25 The impact of these trends on military preparedness is unknown.…”