Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

Physical activity in Filipino youth: the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 181–190 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity (PA) and inactivity levels of Filipino youth aged 14–16 y.

DESIGN: PA type and patterns were assessed in an adolescent cohort enrolled in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey.

SUBJECTS: A total of 1053 males (aged 15.6±0.5 y; body mass index (BMI)=18.6±2.6 kg/m2) and 990 females (aged 14.6±0.5 y; BMI=18.8±2.4 kg/m2).

MEASUREMENTS: PA was assessed by (1) self-reported usual PA (questionnaire); (2) 24-h objective monitoring (Caltrac accelerometer); and (3) 24 h recalls of PA during the objectively monitored time frame.

RESULTS: As measured by Caltrac, males expended 378.0±164.5 kcal and females 271.0±105.4 kcal. The measurement approaches employed agreed in expected ways, given the limitations of each. Together the approaches used indicated that the primary sources of PA for this population are chores and active commuting. In all, 40% of the sample walked to school, less than 1% rode a bicycle, 22% rode in/on motorized transport, and 37% used some combination of walking and motorized transport. Further, gender differences exist for type, frequency, and duration of physical activities performed by Filipino youth. Specifically, females report engaging in few leisure-time physical activities and more household chores. In total, 48% of Filipino youth report watching ≥2 h/day of television; relatively few youth (7%) report watching >4 h/day at this time. An 18% of males report no vigorous activities compared to 87% of females.

CONCLUSION: Clear gender differences in PA patterns and levels exist in Filipino adolescents. Nonsport/exercise type activities (eg chores and active commuting) currently provide a large proportion of daily activity for both males and females, however. It is anticipated that as modernization and technological advancement continue in this developing country, these primary sources of PA will decrease.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Popkin BM, Doak CM . The obesity epidemic is a worldwide phenomenon. Nutr Rev 1998; 56: 106–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang Y, Monteiro C, Popkin BM . Obesity trends in older children and adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr, in press.

  3. Benefice E . Physical fitness and body composition in relation to physical activity in prepubescent Senegalese children. Am J Hum Biol 1998; 10: 385–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Torun B, Davies PSW, Livingstone MBE, Paolisso M, Sackett R, Spurr GB . Energy requirements and dietary recommendation for children and adolescents 1 to 18 years old. Eur J Clin Nutr 1996; 50: S37–S81.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Adair LS, Kuzawa C, Borja JR . Maternal energy stores and diet composition during pregnancy program adolescent blood pressure. Circulation 2001; 104: 1034–1039.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sallis JF . Age-related decline in physical activity: a synthesis of human and animal studies. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 1598–1600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Garnier D, Benefice E . Habitual physical activity of Senegalese adolescent girls under different working conditions, as assessed by a questionnaire and movement registration. Ann Hum Biol 2001; 28: 79–97.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. LaMonte MJ, Tudor-Locke C, Ainsworth BE . Physical activity. In: Anderson R (ed). Obesity: etiology, assessment, treatment, and prevention. Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL, in press.

  9. Tudor-Locke CE, Myers AM . Methodological considerations for researchers and practitioners using pedometers to measure physical (ambulatory) activity. Res Q Exerc Sport 2001; 72: 1–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC, Irwin ML, Swartz AM, Strath SJ, O'Brien WL, Bassett DR, Schmitz KH, Emplaincourt PO, Jacobs DR, Leon AS . Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: S498–S504.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, Haskell WL, Macera CA, Bouchard C, Buchner D, Ettinger W, Heath GW, King AC, Kriska A, Leon AS, Marcus BH, Morris J, Paffenbarger RS, Patrick K, Pollock ML, Rippe JM, Sallis J, Wilmore JH . Physical activity and public health: a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. JAMA 1995; 273: 402–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wong TC, Webser JG, Montoye HJ, Washburn R . Portable accelerometer device for measuring human energy expenditure. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 1981; BME-28: 467–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Montoye HJ, Washburn R, Servais S, Ertl A, Webster JG, Nagle FJ . Estimation of energy expenditure by a portable accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1983; 15: 403–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Anderson RE, Crespo CJ, Bartlett SJ, Cheskin LJ, Pratt M . Relationship of physical activity and television watching with body weight and level of fatness among children: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA 1998; 279: 938–942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Welk GJ, Corbin CB, Dale D . Measurement issues in the assessment of physical activity in children. Res Q Exerc Sport 2000; 71: 59–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, Jacobs DR, Montoye HJ, Sallis JF, Paffenbarger RS . Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993; 25: 71–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Pratt M, Macera CA, Blanton C . Levels of physical activity and inactivity in children and adults in the United States: current evidence and research issues. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: S526–S533.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Schmidt GJ, Walkuski JJ, Stensel DJ . The Singapore Youth Coronary Risk and Physical Activity Study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998; 30: 105–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Goran MI, Nagy TR, Gower BA, Mazariegos M, Solomons N, Hood V, Johnson R . Influence of sex, seasonality, ethnicity, and geographic location on the components of total energy expenditure in young children: implications for energy requirements. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68: 675–682.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bar-Or O, Baranowski T . Physical activity, adiposity, and obesity among adolescents. Pediatr Exerc Sci 1994; 6: 348–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rowlands AV, Eston RG, Ingledew EK . Measurement of physical activity in children with particular reference to the use of heart rate and pedometry. Sports Med 1997; 24: 258–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Tudor-Locke CE, Myers AM . Challenges and opportunities for measuring physical activity in sedentary adults. Sports Med 2001; 31: 91–100.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kriska AM, Knowler WC, LaPorte RE, Drash AL, Wing RR, Blair SN, Bennett PH, Kuller LH . Development of questionnaire to examine relationship of physical activity and diabetes in Pima Indians. Diabetes Care 1990; 13: 401–411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ainsworth BE, Leon AS, Richardson MT, Jacobs DR, Paffenbarger RS . Accuracy of the college alumnus physical activity questionnaire. J Clin Epidemiol 1993; 46: 1403–1411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Richardson MT, Leon AS, Jacobs DR, Ainsworth BE, Serfass R . Comprehensive evaluation of the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. J Clin Epidemiol 1994; 47: 271–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Armstrong N, Welsman J . Young people and physical activity. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang Y, Monteiro C, Popkin BM . Trends of obesity and underweight in older children and adolescents in the United States, Brazil, China, and Russia. Am J Clin Nutr 2002; 75(6): 971–977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Data collection funding for the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) was provided by the Nestle Foundation, USAID under the MEASURE Project. Additional funding for file creation and analysis was provided by US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R01-HD38700). Analysis funding for this grant was provided by the Scientific Affairs Division of M&M Mars though a subcontract to the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center and the Department of Exercise and Wellness at the Arizona State University from the University of North Carolina Population Center.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University East, Mesa, AZ, USA

    C Tudor-Locke

  2. Prevention Research Centre, Norman J Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    B E Ainsworth

  3. Department of Exercise Science, Norman J Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    B E Ainsworth

  4. Department of Nutrition, Carolina Population Centre and School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    L S Adair & B M Popkin

Authors
  1. C Tudor-Locke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B E Ainsworth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L S Adair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B M Popkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Tudor-Locke.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 9 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) 1998–1999 youth PA questionnaire. Select questions. See Table 8
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tudor-Locke, C., Ainsworth, B., Adair, L. et al. Physical activity in Filipino youth: the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Int J Obes 27, 181–190 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802207

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802207

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links