Vol. 3 No. 12A (2022)

Student's Abstract

Kanika Srun^1,2*, Chhorvann Chhea¹, Heng Sopheab¹

1- School of Public Health at the National Institute of Public Health

2- Provincial Health Department of Kampong Cham

*Corresponding author: Kanika Srun, Email: kanikasrun1@gmail.com

Introduction

Globally, the reported levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are still high among adolescents, giving rise to noncommunicable diseases such as cancers, obesity, and metabolic and psychosocial problems. To date, there is limited knowledge on factors associated with physical inactivity and sedentary behavior among adolescents in Cambodia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors associated with physical inactivity and sedentary behavior among adolescents aged 13-17 years old.

Methods

This study used secondary data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted in Cambodia in 2013 using a two-stage cluster sample design to select participants on a national scale from both urban and rural areas. In this study, we restricted   in-school-adolescents aged between 13 and 17 with a total of 2840 samples. Outcome variables were physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. Explanatory variables in the study consisted of age, sex, grade, hunger experience, fruit, vegetable, soft drinks, fast-food consumption, bullying experience, feeling lonely, having close friends, cigarette usage, and weight. Stata version 16.0 was used to analyze the data taken into account the sampling weight. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations between explanatory variables and outcome variables separately, physical inactivity and sedentary behavior.

Results

Overall, 50.6% of the students were males, and 49.4% were females. A majority of students were in grade 7 (30.3%). Most students had a normal weight range, but only 14.2% were underweight, and 3.7% were overweight. Among all respondents, 90.2% were physically inactive, and 11.8% had sedentary behavior. In multivariate logistic regression, only inadequate vegetable consumption was independently associated with physical inactivity (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.24-2.56). Inadequate fruit consumption (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.15-2.38) and students who had not experienced bullying (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.06-2.18) were the main predictors of sedentary behavior.

Conclusion

Approximately one in ten Cambodian adolescents live a sedentary lifestyle, and most are physically inactive. The main predictor of physical inactivity was having inadequate vegetable consumption. The main predictors of sedentary behavior were inadequate fruit consumption and those who did not experience bullying. Although secondary data were used, the current study provides additional findings that could be helpful in guiding health promotion programs for adolescents in schools to increase their vegetable and fruit consumption in their daily diet and further decrease their sedentary lifestyle.

Key words: Physical inactivity, Sedentary behavior, Sedentary lifestyle, Adolescents aged 13-17