Gender influences physical activity changes during adolescence: The HELENA study. Issue 6 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Béghin, L.; Vanhelst, J.; Drumez, E.; Migueles, J.H.; Androutsos, O.; Widhalm, K.; Julian, C.; Moreno, L.A.; De Henauw, S.; Gottrand, F.
• Is Part Of: Clinical nutrition. Volume 38:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 2900
• Page End: 2905
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Physical activity -- Adolescence -- Pubertal status -- Europe -- Sedentary behavior; Critically ill -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Diet therapy -- Periodicals; Parenteral feeding -- Periodicals; Enteral feeding -- Periodicals; Enteral Nutrition -- Periodicals; Parenteral Nutrition -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Periodicals; Diétothérapie -- Périodiques; Alimentation parentérale -- Périodiques; Alimentation entérale -- Périodiques; Nutrition -- Périodiques; Diet therapy; Enteral feeding; Nutrition; Parenteral feeding; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.854
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.12.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-5614

Abstract

Summary: Background: We compared differences in physical activity (PA) between pre/mid-pubertal and post-pubertal participants according to gender. Methods: The study included a total of 1842 healthy participants aged 12.5–17.4 years, who participated in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study. Participants wore a uniaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph© GT1M, Pensacola, FL, USA) attached to their lower back for seven consecutive days to measure PA. Pubertal status was assessed by physical examination and the population was classified as pre/mid-pubertal (Tanner stages 1–3) or post-pubertal (Tanner stages 4–5). PA was compared between these groups according to gender during the whole week, on school-free days and on school days, before and after school, and during lessons and recesses. Results: When comparing the pre/mid-pubertal group with the post-pubertal group, girls' total PA did not differ between groups. However, a slight difference was observed in boys, among whom PA on school-free days showed a difference of 17.6% between the pre/mid-pubertal group and the post-pubertal group (679 kcounts vs 564 kcounts, respectively; P = 0.0007) and 20% (162 kcount vs 135 kcounts; P = 0.006) for school recess. There was no difference among girls. Conclusions: A reduced level of PA in the post-pubertal groups was only observed in boys during non-organized times such as on school-free days and during school recesses, with a moderate impact on total PA.