RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Physical activity is a good indicator of health state and well-being. The purpose of this study is to assess physical activity level and to study its association with body mass index and body fat mass in young people of school age in the Wilaya of Marrakech. METHODS: A sample of 1173 young people of school age (aged 15- 20 years) was recruited in the city of Marrakech (urban area) and in the Al Haouz Province (rural area). Physical activity level was determined by measuring the energy expenditure compared to the recommended levels of physical activity. Logistic regression was used in the statistical study of these associations. RESULTS: Forty-one point one percent (41.1%) of respondents were physically active for three hours and more per week, 31.1% practiced less than three hours per week, while 27.3% (41.1% of girls against 14.2% of boys; p < 0.001) do not practice any sport activity in their free time outside the school. Boys were more active than girls (OR = 3.16; p < 0.001). Rural students were more active than urban dwellers (OR = 1.9; p < 0.001). Among girls, passing from the level of "sedentary" lifestyle to the level "very active" lifestyle, the means of body-mass index (BMI) and body fat mass decreased by 1.9 kg/m2 (F = 8.03; p < 0.001) and 6.28% (F = 15.80; p < 0.001) respectively. Among boys, the decrease in BMI was 0.85 kg/m2 (F = 1.17; p = 0.17) and 2.77% (F = 5.15; p = 0.006) in body fat. CONCLUSION: Physical activity is significantly associated with body fat mass and BMI. Physical activity promotion in young people into their daily activities as well as during their leisure time, is a basic need to cope with the downstream effects of sedentary lifestyle on their health.