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Leisure, sedentary lifestyle and health in ecuadorian teenagers

Abstract:

Introduction: The study of leisure not only favors an approach to the time dedicated to nonworking activities, but also to relate recreational habits with levels associated to physical inactivity and health. Objective: This research paper focuses on the evaluation of leisure (active and passive) of Ecuadorian adolescents and their relationship with the existing level of physical inactivity. Methods: To this end, the Ecuadorian reality was adapted into a survey of Leisure, similar to the ages studied, applied in countries like Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay; and PAQA (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents) internationally used and validated. It was taken a sample of 429 students aged 1213 years, 438 (1415 years) and 430 (1617 years), obtaining a sample size of 1 297 students from Colegio Nacional Juan de Salinas. Results: The results show that in their leisure students dedicate 47.16% to passive activities with a predominant use of technology, listen to music and watch TV; 19,91% to dynamic activities with a predominance of walking, going to the disco and sports. Conclusion: It is shown that the misuse of leisure is favouring a marked physical inactivity in adolescents, laying the foundation for the subsequent design of a program of physical and recreational activities according to the socioeconomic, historical and cultural conditions of the Ecuadorian mountain range.