Adherence
Engaging in multiple specific types of physical activity during adolescence is moderately associated with higher global physical activity levels in young adulthood, whereas participation in single specific sports has weak associations.
Encourage young people to try multiple sports and activities rather than specializing in just one. While specializing in one sport doesn't hurt, doing a variety of activities (e.g., hiking, cycling, ball games) creates a stronger, more flexible habit of physical activity that is more likely to persist into adulthood.
being involved in various types of physical activity may offer good opportunities for establishing lifelong involvement in physical activity, independent of the specific type of activity.
Why this rating
Longitudinal data with clear statistical association (r=0.21-0.23) between breadth of activity and adult activity.
Source
Tracking of leisure-time physical activity during adolescence and young adulthood: a 10-year longitudinal study
Lise Kjønniksen et al. · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 2008
DOI 10.1186/1479-5868-5-69
More from this paper
- Adolescent males who are inactive are at high risk of remaining inactive in young adulthood, whereas inactive adolescent females tend to increase their activity levels.Good
- There is an average decline in leisure-time physical activity from age 13 to 23, with the decline being significantly greater in males than in females.Good
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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