Physical Activity Engagement Among Youth

Physical activity engagement among young people is a cornerstone of lifelong health, yet global trends indicate that most children and adolescents fail to achieve recommended thresholds of daily movement. Regular activity during growth supports cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal development, mental well-being and academic performance, while also establishing habits that mitigate the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and depression. Patterns of engagement are shaped by a complex interplay of individual attributes—such as self-efficacy, motor skill competence and behavioural regulation—alongside social influences from family, peers and educators, and environmental factors including access to safe play spaces and organised sport. Transitions between school levels, urbanisation, screen-based leisure and socioeconomic inequalities further mediate participation rates, with girls and those from deprived communities often at heightened risk of inactivity. The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated these disparities by disrupting structured opportunities for movement and amplifying sedentary behaviour. Contemporary research emphasises multilevel intervention strategies that integrate policy reform, community design, digital platforms and tailored programmes to foster inclusive, enjoyable and sustainable activity habits among diverse youth populations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Physical Activity Engagement Among Youth publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in physical activity engagement among youth across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Physical activity engagement: Regular participation in bodily movements that increase energy expenditure above resting levels.
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA): Intensity of movement sufficient to elevate heart rate and breathing rate, typically including brisk walking, running or sports.
Sedentary behaviour: Waking activities characterised by low energy expenditure while sitting or reclining, such as screen time.
Ecological determinants: Multi-layered influences on behaviour encompassing personal, social, environmental and policy contexts.
COM-B model: A theoretical framework positing that behaviour arises from interactions among capability, opportunity and motivation.

References

1. Factors That Influence Participation in Physical Activity in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review from the Social Ecological Model Perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).
2. National trends and ecological factors of physical activity engagement among U.S youth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cohort study from 2019 to 2021. BMC Public Health (2024).
3. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity and further digital exercise intervention among inactive British adolescents in secondary schools: a qualitative study with physical education teachers. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
4. Adolescents’ Perspectives on the Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity: An Updated Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).