Author/Editor		Golja, Petra; Šterlinko-Grm, Helena; Arsenijević, Mojca; Besednjak-Kocijančič, Lilijana
Title		Physical activity of children and adolescents, who do or do not participate in sports clubs
Translated title		Telesna dejavnost otrok in mladostnikov, ki so oz. niso vključeni v športne klube
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 78, št. 5
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 225-30
Language		slo
Abstract		Background Physical activity during childhood and adolescence is beneficial for health and positive physical, mental, and emotional development. Similar to Scandinavian countries, voluntary physical activities in Slovenia are often organised by sports clubs. methods The present study assessed, what is the proportion of children and adolescents who participate in sports clubs, how physically active children and adolescents, both, members and non-members of sport clubs are, and whether the weekly amount of physical activity differs between children and adolescents. Results 43% of children and less (P < 0.01), 28% of adolescents were members of sports clubs. 54% of the boys were members of sports clubs in the primary, and significantly less (P < 0.01), 38%, in the secondary school. These values were significantly lower for girls, for both, primary (31%) (P < 0.001) and secondary school (21%) (P < 0.001). The average weekly physical activity of sports club members was 9.2(5.0) h/week in children and 10.6(4.6) h/week for adolescents, and was significantly lower for their peers non-members, with 5.0(3.9) h/week and 3.6(2.8) h/week, respectively. Among sports club members, 28% of children participated in sports competitions ten to thirty times, and 24% of adolescents more than thirty times per year. Conclusions The majority of children and adolescents, members of sport clubs, fulfil the current recommendations of at least one hour of physical activity daily. Several children and especially adolescents, non-members, do not. It is worrying, that members of sports clubs compete (too) often and that the extent of sport trainings is not properly adjusted. Small involvement of girls in sport clubs is also alarming.
Descriptors		SPORTS MOTOR ACTIVITY QUESTIONNAIRES