ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The current recommendation for physical activity in childhood and adolescence is that every young person should engage daily for 60 minutes or more in moderate physical activity on five or more days a week, totalizing at least 300 minutes of physical activity per week. Few studies on the level of physical activity were found in samples of Brazilian children and adolescents.
Objective:
This research aims to apply a questionnaire to assess the level of physical activity and its correlation with stages of puberty and body mass index (BMI) in healthy adolescents enrolled in municipal schools in the city of Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study conducted through the application of a questionnaire (IPAQ) to assess the level of physical activity and its correlation with weight, height and BMI of 202 healthy adolescents.
Results:
The group of 15 to 17 years, considered post-pubertal in this study, showed significantly longer times than the other groups regarding the answer to the question 4b (p=0.002), which inquires about the total time spent sitting during a day of the weekend.
Conclusion:
The group 9-11 years, considered pre-pubertal in this study, showed significantly longer times than the other groups with regard to moderate ludic activity.
Keywords:
physical activity; exercise; adolescent