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BACKGROUND: The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity (PA) daily. Students are also recommended to attend school physical education (PE) classes on all 5 days of the school week. Understanding how youth perceive PA can inform messaging to programs that aim to help Georgia’s high school students meet their recommended level of PA. The objective of this study was to determine Georgia high school students’ physical activity behaviors and perceptions.
METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of recommended PA behaviors and perceptions about PA using the 2013 Georgia Youth Risk Behavior Survey data for high school students. To assess perceptions, we examined: 1) reasons for being physically active; and, 2) most likely locations of physical activity by physical activity status. Weighted χ2 tests were used to examine any differences in responses selected by students for each perception component above. All statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) (version 9.3, SAS Institute Inc.) and incorporated appropriate procedures to account for the complex sample design.
RESULTS: Approximately 25% of students participated in PA ≥ 60 min/day, 50% of students participated in muscle-strengthening activities ≥ 3 days/week and 34% of student attended PE 5 days/week. A higher percentage of students who participated in PA ≥ 60 min/day reported that they enjoyed exercise and that they wanted to be healthy compared to students who did not (p < 0.05). A higher percentage of students who participated in PA ≥ 60 min/day reported that they exercised at home compared to students who did not (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 in 4 Georgia high school students participate in the recommended level of PA ≥ 60 min/day. Students who did not meet the recommended level of PA were less likely to report that they enjoyed exercise and that they wanted to be healthy. Incorporating messages about students’ perceptions about physical activity should be considered when developing promotional programs or policies that aim to improve meeting the recommended levels of PA among high school students in Georgia.