Hábitos y nivel de actividad física en escolares en Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

The habit of physical activity identifies the intention when doing physical activity. The strength of that habit is found by means of repetitive actions with an intentional routine of physical activity. Nevertheless, a few studies have identified the existing relation between the level of physical activity and the strength of the habit. Objective: To identify the possible relation between the level of physical activity and the strength of the habit, in teenagers studying at public schools in Bogota. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 317 students, both males and females, whose ages are between 10,0 and 17,9 years old, belonging to three public schools in Bogota (IED). They participated voluntarily in the self-filling out of the surveys related to their level of physical activity (AF) PAQ-C / PAQ-A, and AF – SRHI in order to determine the strength of the habit. Findings: Based on the samples, it was found that the 57.1 % were girls aged 12,79 ± 1,46 years old. The AF level assessed for students G1 from 10,0 to 13,9 years old (PAQ-C) had an average of 2.24 (±0.63); and for teenagers (G2) from 14 to 17.9, 2.14 (±0.63). For both groups, an AF low-moderate level was found, being the case of the girl slightly lower (2.14±0.59) and teenagers (2.01±0.47). In relation to the strength of the habit, both the G1 (average 27.06±9.76) and the G2 (27.76±11.85) showed the intention in the realization of AF. Conclusions: A higher level of physical activity is the result of a major strength of the habit in the reduction of the intention, and a major behavior to the repetitive and continuum realization of AF. The evaluation of the habit can contribute to improve the interventions aimed at fostering the physical activity in teenagers.