AGE AND SEX-DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AMONG ONTARIO TEENAGERS

Research on physical activity and fitness indicates their importance i n the prevention of disease and promotion of health. However, levels o f physical activity have been shown to vary significantly by age, sex and a wide range of additional factors. This paper examines age and se x differences in physical inactivity among 13 to 19 year olds particip ating in the 1990 Ontario Health Survey. Findings from the bivariate a nalysis suggest a major increase in physical inactivity between ages 1 5 and 16. When logistic regression is used to examine the adjusted eff ects of predictor variables on physical inactivity, the effects of age remain significant. However, the odds of inactivity at one year incre ments are not significant. These are significant increased odds of ina ctivity associated with such factors as sex, friends' (activity) parti cipation, perceived future health problems, and perceived health statu s. The public health implications of the findings suggest that those r esponsible for developing programs and policies to increase physical a ctivity among teenagers should consider the critical years of decrease d activity and the factors that might explain why this decline occurs.