A study following up on adolescents found that decreased physical activity between the ages of 15 and 19 led to unfavorable changes in glucose metabolism, HDL cholesterol levels, and body mass index. On the other hand, increased physical activity was linked to reduced blood pressure among adolescents.
The University of Jyväskylä, UKK institute, and the network of Finnish Sports Medicine Centres conducted a study examining the effects of changes in physical activity during the transition to adulthood on cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Longitudinal accelerometer data from Finnish adolescents were combined with health marker information collected in clinical examination for the first time.
The study compared young people who maintained or changed their physical activity levels to those who sustained a relatively low level of physical activity throughout adolescence. The results indicated that changes in physical activity have an impact on health risk factors in adolescence.
Tuula Aira, doctoral researcher, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences
The baseline level and magnitude of change are significant
The study found that highly active 15-year-olds who increased their activity as young adults experienced lowered blood pressure. Additionally, adolescents who decreased their activity from moderate to low levels encountered increases in insulin concentration and body mass index, while those who reduced movement from high to average levels experienced an increase in fasting blood glucose and a decrease in HDL cholesterol.
In summary, the study revealed that increasing physical activity leads to favorable changes in risk factors, while decreasing activity leads to unfavorable changes – even at a young age.
The study adjusted the results for gender, smoking, snuff use, and dietary habits (fruit and vegetable intake). This ensured that the observed differences and changes in risk factors between the physical activity groups were independent of other factors studied.
Investigation Methods
The cohort study included accelerometer data and clinical examination data with blood samples from 250 adolescents at age 15 (2013−2014) and at age 19 (2017−2018). Participants were recruited from sports clubs and schools in different parts of Finland.
The study is part of the Health Promoting Sports Club cohort study, conducted in collaboration between the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences (University of Jyväskylä), the UKK Institute, and the network of Finnish Sports and Exercise Medicine centers and funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Source:
University of Jyväskylä
Journal reference:
Aira, T., et al. (2023). Longitudinal physical activity patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors during adolescence. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. doi.org/10.1111/sms.14415.