Level of physical activity of adolescents in private secondary educational establishments in the city of Lima after the period of confinement due to COVID-19; [Nivel de actividad física de adolescentes en establecimientos educativos privados de nivel secundario en la ciudad de Lima tras el periodo de confinamiento por COVID-19]

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have had a significant impact on adolescent physical activity (PA). This study aimed to evaluate the level of PA of adolescents in private secondary educational establishments in the city of Lima after the period of confinement due to COVID-19. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 380 students (202 men and 178 women) aged 14 to 16, using the "Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents" (PAQ-A) to measure PA. The results indicated that post-confinement PA levels are below the WHO recommendations, with the overall average of the PAQ-A scores falling within the ranges of physical inactivity. Sociodemographic analyzes revealed significant differences by gender and age, with male adolescents reporting higher levels of PA than female adolescents, and 14-year-olds being more active than 16-year-olds. Furthermore, students from institutions with lower socioeconomic vulnerability rates had better PA averages. The conclusions suggest the need to design specific strategies to increase PA in adolescent girls and older students, as well as strengthen the promotion of PA in educational centers with high socioeconomic vulnerability. This study provides evidence on the importance of interventions aimed at improving the PA of post-lockdown adolescents, highlighting the influence of sociodemographic and contextual factors. © Copyright: Federación Española de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educación Física (FEADEF)