PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS, BODY MASS INDEX, MUSCULAR ENDURANCE, HAMSTRING FLEXIBILITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE OF OLDER ADOLESCENTS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA PROVINCE, PAKISTAN

Abstract: Insufficient physical activity and Sedentary lifestyle is making youth susceptible to several chronic diseases globally and in Pakistan. This research assessed the association between levels of physical activity and health related fitness status of school and college students from different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  Data was collected from 390 students at secondary schools and colleges. International Self-report measure was used to measure physical activity levels and health related fitness tests (BMI, Harvard step test, push up test and sit and reach test) were used for evaluation of body mass, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, and flexibility. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic data. Group differences and associations were analysed using MANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson’s correlation coefficients and linear regression. Only 3.84% participants were engaging in vigorous intensity physical activity and all the participants had poor/ below average cardiorespiratory endurance (56.6 ± 4%). Moderate intensity activity was significantly correlated with cardiorespiratory endurance, whereas participation in different sports had significant association with flexibility. The adolescents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not meet the minimum requirements for physical activity levels and had poor cardiorespiratory endurance. Thus, a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous exercise/ structured physical activity every day should be emphasized in schools and colleges to reduce risk of chronic diseases.