Longitudinal physical activity patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors during adolescence.

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between longitudinal physical activity (PA) patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors from adolescence to young adulthood. METHODS: This cohort study encompassed 250 participants recruited from sports clubs and schools, and examined at mean age 15 and 19. Device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA was grouped into five patterns (via a data-driven method, using inactivity maintainers as a reference). The outcomes were: glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). Linear growth curve models were applied with adjustment for sex, age, fruit/vegetable consumption, cigarette/snuff use, and change in the device wear-time. RESULTS: Insulin and BMI increased among decreasers from moderate to low PA (ß for insulin 0.23, 95% CI 0.03-0.46; ß for BMI 0.90; CI 0.02-1.78). The concentration of HDL cholesterol decreased (ß -0.18, CI -0.31 to -0.05) and that of glucose increased (ß 0.18, CI 0.02-0.35) among decreasers from high to moderate PA. By contrast, among increasers, blood pressure declined (systolic ß -6.43, CI -12.16 to -0.70; diastolic ß -6.72, CI -11.03 to -2.41). CONCLUSIONS: Already during the transition to young adulthood, changes in PA are associated with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. Favorable blood pressure changes were found among PA increasers. Unfavorable changes in BMI, insulin, glucose, and HDL cholesterol were found in groups with decreasing PA. The changes were dependent on the baseline PA and the magnitude of the PA decline.

Psychosocial and health behavioural characteristics of longitudinal physical activity patterns: a cohort study from adolescence to young adulthood.

BACKGROUND: The decline in physical activity (PA) during adolescence is well-established. However, while some subgroups of adolescents follow the general pattern of decreased activity, others increase or maintain high or low activity. The correlates and determinants of different PA patterns may vary, offering valuable information for targeted health promotion. This study aimed to examine how psychosocial factors, health behaviours, and PA domains are associated with longitudinal PA patterns from adolescence to young adulthood. METHODS: This prospective study encompassed 254 participants measured at mean ages 15 and 19. Device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA was grouped into five patterns (activity maintainers, inactivity maintainers, decreasers from moderate to low PA, decreasers from high to moderate PA, increasers) via a data-driven method, K-Means for longitudinal data. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between health behaviours, psychosocial factors, PA domains, and different PA patterns. RESULTS: A lack of sports club participation characterised inactivity maintainers throughout adolescence. Difficulties in communicating with one's father at age 15 were associated with higher odds of belonging to inactivity maintainers and to decreasers from moderate to low PA. Lower fruit and vegetable consumption at age 19 was also related to increased odds of belonging to the groups of inactivity maintainers and decreasers from moderate to low PA. Smoking at age 19 was associated with being a decreaser from moderate to low PA. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse factors characterise longitudinal PA patterns over the transition to young adulthood. Sports club participation contributes to maintained PA. Moreover, a father-adolescent relationship that supports open communication may be one determinant for sustained PA during adolescence. A healthier diet and non-smoking as a young adult are associated with more favourable PA development.

Physical activity from adolescence to young adulthood: patterns of change, and their associations with activity domains and sedentary time.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal studies demonstrate an average decline in physical activity (PA) from adolescence to young adulthood. However, while some subgroups of adolescents decrease activity, others increase or maintain high or low activity. Activity domains may differ between subgroups (exhibiting different PA patterns), and they offer valuable information for targeted health promotion. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify PA patterns from adolescence to young adulthood; also to explore the associations of (i) changes in PA domains and in sedentary time, (ii) sociodemographic factors, and (iii) self-rated health with diverging PA patterns. METHODS: The observational cohort study data encompassed 254 adolescents at age 15 and age 19. K-means cluster analysis for longitudinal data was performed to identify participant clusters (patterns) based on their accelerometry-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Logistic regressions were applied in further analysis. RESULTS: Five PA patterns were identified: inactivity maintainers (n = 71), activity maintainers (n = 70), decreasers from moderate (to low) PA (n = 61), decreasers from high (to moderate) PA (n = 32), and increasers (n = 20). At age 15, participation in sports clubs (SC, 41-97%) and active commuting (AC, 47-75%) was common in all the patterns. By age 19, clear dropout from these activities was prevalent (SC participation mean 32%, AC 31-63%). Inactivity maintainers reported the lowest amount of weekly school physical education. Dropout from SC - in contrast to non-participation in SC - was associated with higher odds of being a decreaser from high PA, and with lower odds of being an inactivity maintainer. Maintained SC participation was associated with higher odds of belonging to the decreasers from high PA, and to the combined group of activity maintainers and increasers; also with lower odds of being an inactivity maintainer. Maintenance/adoption of AC was associated with decreased odds of being an inactivity maintainer. Self-reported health at age 19 was associated with the patterns of maintained activity and inactivity. CONCLUSIONS: PA patterns diverge over the transition to adulthood. Changes in SC participation and AC show different associations with diverging PA patterns. Hence, tailored PA promotion is recommended.

Longitudinal relationship between organised and non-organised physical activities and overall physical activity in children aged 3-11 years.

Young children's physical activity (PA) has been decreasing while their sports participation has been increasing. Therefore, the aim of this research was to longitudinally examine whether and, if so, how organised and non-organised PA participation by early childhood education and care (ECEC)-aged children (T1; 3-8 years) predicted their accelerometer-measured PA at primary school age (T2; 7-11 years). Secondarily, changes in organised and non-organised PA participation over time were investigated. The cluster-randomised study participants comprised 501 Finnish children (52.3% girls: T1, Mage = 5.57 ± 1.06; T2, Mage = 8.80 ± 1.07). PA participation was queried via guardian questionnaire at T1 and T2. Organised PA participation was operationalised as non-participation, participation in one sport or multisport (two or more) participation; non-organised PA was operationalised as time spent outdoors on weekdays and on weekend days. PA at T2 was measured using accelerometers. The primary outcome was tested using linear regressions, while a paired sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test assessed differences between T1 and T2. The results showed outdoor time and organised sports participation increased from T1 to T2. Moreover, outdoor time at T1 predicted more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and less sedentary time at T2, while multisport participation predicted significantly more MVPA and less sedentary time at T2. Overall, being outdoors and multisport participation at younger ages appear to have predicted Finnish children's later (MV) PA and sedentary behaviour.