Association between sports practice and physical education classes and lifestyle among adolescents

Purpose
Through physical education classes, students receive information regarding the benefits of physical activity for health, in addition to the first effective contact with physical activity, physical exercise, and sports. The aim of this study was to identify the association between sports practice and frequency of physical education classes and aspects related to lifestyle in adolescents.

Methods
The study included 861 students aged 14–19 years from the city of São José, Brazil. Sports practice was assessed with a questionnaire that classified adolescents into 3 groups: does not practise, less than 6 months, and at least 6 months. Independent variables were physical activity, cigarette use, alcohol consumption, sedentary behaviour, number of sleep hours per day, and weekly attendance at physical education classes. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results
Higher likelihood of practising sports for at least 6 months was observed in those who performed 2 (OR: 7.54; 95% CI: 1.20–47.29) and 3 (OR: 8.33; 95% CI: 2.13–32.55) physical education classes per week. A greater number ( 8) of sleep hours per day (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.31–1.60) and excessive alcohol use (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09–1.20) were associated with practising sports for at least 6 months.

Conclusions
Two or more weekly physical education classes were associated with engagement in sports practice outside the school context. Sleeping 8 hours per day and excessive alcohol use were directly bound with practising sports for at least 6 months.