Physical activity among children and adolescents: recommendation compliance according to sex and age

Aim: To describe physical activity (PA) patterns among children and adolescents according to sex and age and the accomplishment of PA recommendations. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, with a non-randomized sample of 1,710 children and adolescents, selected from two Portugal databases. The sample was divided into 4 age groups [children (3-5-year-old) and (6-10-year-old); adolescents (11-14-year-old) and (15-18-year-old)]. PA was measured by accelerometry. Two-way analysis of variance ANOVA was carried out to test the main effects of age group, sex, and interactions (age group*sex). Results: Significant age group and sex interaction effects were found in light (L)PA and vigorous (V)PA. Moreover, LPA is higher in adolescents in comparison to children, the inverse occurs in moderate (M)VPA. Preschoolers are engaged in more MVPA, and less LPA compared to other age groups. The proportion of children and adolescents who meet the MVPA and steps number recommendation ranged from 6.0-96.2% and 15.6-87.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Girls spent less time in PA than boys. Children and adolescents, boys and girls have significant differences in their relationship with the PA and their recommendations. Children spent more time in MVPA and less time in LPA than adolescents did, and a higher proportion of boys met the MVPA recommendation than girls.