Changes In Leisure-Time Physical Activity In Young Adults After Thirteen Years

Physical inactivity is highly prevalent across all age groups, from childhood to old age, and it is associated with several health problems, such as cardiometabolic diseases, obesity and mental health. Therefore, monitoring physical activity levels over time is important to identify key time points for intervention. PURPOSE: To investigate changes in leisure-time physical activity between childhood/adolescence and early adulthood. METHODS: A cohort study included 70 young adults from a city in southern Brazil who had previously participated in assessments during childhood. The participants were invited for a new evaluation in 2024, forming a cohort of more than a decade, marking the transitions from childhood to adolescence and adolescence to adulthood. Leisure-time physical activity (minutes/week) was evaluated using a self-reported questionnaire (at baseline it was a questionnaire adapted from a validated questionnaire, and at follow-up it was the IPAQ - International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Participants were classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) as active and inactive. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 12 (±3.11) years in 2011 and 24 (±3.18) years in 2024. The prevalence for meeting guidelines of leisure-time physical activity was 15.7% and 54.3%, respectively. Although no significant difference was found (p = 0.985) over thirteen years, 38.6% remained in the inactive category. Regarding classification changes after thirteen years, among young adults classified as inactive, 45.7% moved to the active category and 7.1% moved to the inactive category. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in the number of young adults who are active after the period of thirteen years. However, there is a high prevalence of inactive young adults. These findings reinforce the need to promote strategies for engaging in physical activity among adults to combat the low prevalence observed and its possible negative impacts on health and quality of life. Supported by: Brazilian Agencies Foundation for Research Support of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS)