Abstract

Introduction: Physical inactivity or sedentary lifestyle is the fourth risk factor for global mortality and one of the main risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases. In Europe and worldwide, a significant proportion of young people and adults have sedentary or low physical activity habits.

Objective: To explore the prevalence, frequency and type of physical exercise practiced by adolescent students in Extremadura (Spain) between 14 and 21 years of age, as well as the perceived barriers to not performing physical exercise.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample was formed by public high school and university students from Extremadura in Cáceres, from 14 to 21 years old. On May of 2018, sociodemographic and questions related to practice of physical exercise data were collected. Chi square was used for the qualitative variable, in the bivariate analysis.

Result: 56 adolescent students have participated. 74.1% of students indicate that they practice physical exercise normally. Statistically significant differences were detected between gender and exercise practice (p<0.05). 24.1% of the participants chose running, 12.1% walking, 17.2% go to gym to perform muscle exercises and 12.1% play football, followed by other sports in smaller proportion. Regarding if they have any impediment to perform physical exercise due to injury, illness or lack of time, 19% indicated it.

Conclusion: Although most adolescents practice physical exercise, with a frequency of at least two or three days a week and the most frequent exercises among adolescents are running, walking and going to the gym, it is necessary to continue promoting healthy lifestyle habits related to the practice of physical exercise, especially in the female gender.

Keywords: Students; Adolescent; Sports; Exercise; Physical activity; Prevalence