Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour among Adolescents in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia
- Author:
CC Kee
;
K H Lim
;
MG Sumarni
;
MN Ismail
;
BK Poh
;
NM Amal
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, adolescent
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2011;7(1):83-94
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Physical inactivity is strongly associated with obesity and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in
children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study using multistage random sampling was conducted to
determine associations between demographic characteristics, sedentary behaviours and physical activity
among adolescents. Data were collected from 785 (414 males and 371 females) Form four students
attending 15 schools in Petaling District, Selangor using an adapted self-administered questionnaire.
Results showed that more females (50.1%) were physically inactive compared to males (39.6%) (Adjusted
odds ratio (OR): 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-2.15). Physically inactive adolescents were
less likely to participate in intramural/house league sports (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.19-2.44), school team
sports (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03-2.04) and individual physical activities outside school (OR: 1.53, 95%
CI: 1.11-2.12) compared to their physically active counterparts. Physically inactive adolescents were
also less engaged in sedentary activities, such as television watching (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94),
playing computer/video game (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.28-0.72), talking on the telephone/mobile phone
text messaging (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.32-0.69) and reading (OR:0.45, 95% CI: 0.24-0.86) compared
to those who were physically active. In this study, physical activity coexists with sedentary behaviour
in adolescents. Sedentary activities may not necessarily displace physical activity among youth. In
addition, these data suggest that promoting organised sports in school and outside the school among
youths may be a potential strategy for increasing physical activity in this population.
