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Erschienen in:
29.03.2016 | Original Article
Soccer practice is associated with health-related behaviours among Brazilian male adolescents
Erschienen in: Sport Sciences for Health | Ausgabe 2/2016
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Purpose
Exercise is associated with a lower risk of acquiring chronic diseases in adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of regular soccer practice with health-related behaviours among male adolescents.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 739 male adolescents aged 14–18 years from the city of Aracaju, in north-eastern Brazil. Information about soccer practice and health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol use, dietary habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour) was collected based on a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals of 95 %.
Results
Approximately 35.0 % of adolescents practiced soccer for three or more days during the week. Adolescents aged 14–16 years, adolescents at intermediate and high socio-economic levels, those who were physically active, and those who showed satisfactory consumption of fruits and vegetables were more likely to practice soccer for three or more days during the week.
Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that soccer practice should be encouraged among male adolescents during their leisure time because it is a low-cost and enjoyable practice that can increase physical activity levels in school populations and is associated with other healthy behaviours.