Physical Activity Levels, BMI and Healthy Life Style Behaviors in Adolescents Living in a Rural District

Abstract

Objective: Getting insight into pubescent health behaviors and related aspects is the initial step in improving lifelong health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among physical activity levels (PALs), body mass index (BMI) and healthy lifestyle behaviors (HLBs) in adolescents in one of the rural districts of Turkey. Material and Methods: Participants were 749 14-18- year-old Turkish girls and boys in one of the rural districts of Turkey. Their physical characteristics like body weight (kg), height (cm) and BMI were determined. Participants completed the Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire (PAAQ) and the Adolescent Lifestyle Profile Scale (ALP) for determination of physical activity level (PAL) and HLBs, respectively. Results: The physical characteristics and BMI of girls and boys revealed gender related differences (p<0.05) whereas PAL did not show any gender related differences (p>0.05). The total health behavior scores of adolescents were found as above the average (111.77 (SD=11.81)). Results also indicated correlations, from low to moderate, between PAL and health responsibility, physical activity, positive life perspective, stress management, spiritual health subscales and total profiles (p<0.05). In contrast no significant relationship was found between PAL and nutrition and interpersonal relations (p>0.05). Moreover, there was no relationship between BMI and PAL, BMI and healthy life style profiles (p>0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that adolescents had gender related BMI differences as expected but did not have sufficient levels of PA and gender related changes in PALs and healthy life style choices were not different. In addition, we found no relationship among BMI, PAL & HLBs whereas PAL and ALP subscales and total profile were associated within the range of weak to moderate in boys, girls and total sample.