Prenatal, biological and environmental factors associated with physical activity maintenance from childhood to adolescence

Abstract

Our aim was to identify prenatal, biological and environmental correlates of child to adolescence physical activity maintenance in 1,186 Brazilian youth (525 boys) aged between 10 and 16 years. Current and former physical activity levels were obtained cross-sectionally through questionnaires. As potential correlates, parent's activity levels, socioeconomic status and offspring's birth weight were self-reported by parents. Somatic maturation was estimated by the peak of height velocity. Logistic regression analyses revealed that, regardless of chronological age, males were more likely to be active in childhood (OR = 1.73 [CI 95% = 1.33 to 2.271) and to maintain physical activity (adjusted by chronological age, sex, birth weight and mother's physical activity) (OR = 3.58 [CI 95% = 2.32 to 5.541), as well as late maturing adolescents (OR = 2.52 [CI 95% 1.02 to 6.221). Adolescents whose mother was inactive (OR = 0.31 [CI 95% = 0.11 to 0.861) also had a lower probability of maintaining physical activity. Thus, girls, adolescents born with low weight and those with inactive mother are less likely to maintain physical activity levels from childhood to adolescence.