School and extracurricular physical activity: The perspective of secondary school students in Greater La Plata

Abstract

Within the framework of the studies conducted by CEREN on the incidence of diet and physical activity in nutritional status and its relationship with blood pressure in the population attending public secondary schools in Greater La Plata, this article presents an analysis of data on perceptions and practices of physical activity. We understand that physical activity constitutes a broad reference that recognizes everything from movements (such as standing up, changing clothes, and bathing) to competitive, demanding, and high-performance sports activities. Within this framework, it is necessary to recognize different categories: physical exercise and sports. In this sense, we focus on perceptions of physical education classes, participation in them, the time devoted to them, and the type of activities developed, as it constitutes a mandatory subject within the school curriculum. A detailed analysis of the undertaking of physical activity outside school, the frequency of practice, and the reasons for non-practice is provided, considering family support in their practice. The data show that almost all students participated regularly in physical education classes at school, where sports predominated, with boys being those who participated most. Regarding extracurricular physical activity, almost three-quarters of the students undertook it, with boys for the most part being those who did so. Likewise, differences in the choice of sports by age group were highlighted. Based on the findings, it is suggested that specific strategies be promoted from the various institutions aimed at stimulating the interest of those who state they do not engage in physical activity and at addressing those causes that are external to the desires and/or wishes of young people.