Physical activity patterns and associated factors among youths in Singapore: A cross-sectional island-wide community study

Physical activity (PA) plays a critical role in preventing non-communicable diseases and improving mental well-being.1 PA should commence as a lifelong lifestyle at a young age but global physical inactivity rates remain high across various age groups.2 In Singapore, structured PA is embedded in early schooling through physical education and co-curricular activities (CCAs) but becomes voluntary as youths transit to higher education. With increasing autonomy and academic pressures, PA engagement among older youths may decline. Prior Singapore studies have reported that many adolescents in Singapore fail to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA daily.3