Physical activity levels and their correlates among secondary school adolescents in a township of Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To determine physical activity level and its correlational factors among secondary school adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two public and two private schools in Jamshed Town, Karachi, from March 2012 to June 2013, comprising students aged 10-17 years. The subjects, selected by simple random sampling were students of grades VI, VII, VIII. Physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for older children. Socio-demographic data was also collected. SPSS 19 was used to analyse the data. Results: Of the total 216 students, 131(60.6%) were girls and 85(39.5%) were boys, with an overall mean age of 13±1.4 years. Of the total, 151(70%) subjects had moderate and 65(30%) had low physical activity levels. Boys educated in public schools and those with parental support for sports were more physically active (p<0.05). Conclusion: Private school without playgrounds, female gender and lack of parental support for sports were correlates of physical inactivity among the students.