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A recent international study has uncovered a link between adolescents’ inactivity and the environments they live in, highlighting the role of access to parks and social media use in influencing teens’ physical activity levels. Published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, the research indicates that teenagers in walkable neighbourhoods with better perceptions of safety from traffic and crime are more likely to be active and spend less time on screens.
The study, led by Ranjit Mohan Anjana from Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, analyzed data from nearly 4,000 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years across 14 countries. Researchers found that teens living in walkable areas with easy access to parks were more likely to engage in physical activity, while those in areas with limited park access, such as India and Bangladesh, tended to be more sedentary.
“The home and neighbourhood environment features, including safety from traffic and crime, were significantly related to sedentary time and behaviour,” said Anjana. “Concerns over traffic and crime influenced whether teenagers were able to be active, as these factors affected their freedom to engage in outdoor activities.”
Social media was also identified as a major contributor to sedentary behaviour, with teenagers in higher-income countries, such as Denmark, having greater access to electronic devices and social media accounts. The study found that, on average, teens in Denmark had 4.2 electronic devices in their bedrooms, compared to just 1.2 devices in India. Furthermore, fewer than 30 percent of adolescents in India and Bangladesh reported having personal social media accounts, while over 90 percent of teens in wealthier countries had one.
The study highlights the growing global concern over excessive screen time, with adolescents spending an average of eight to ten hours a day on sedentary activities such as watching TV and playing video games. This behaviour is linked to various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and mental health problems.
Parents’ reports on park access also varied widely across countries. While parents in Australia reported good access to parks, those in Nigeria had no access at all, and parents in Bangladesh and India reported poor access. Traffic concerns were found to be a major issue for parents in Brazil, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, and Israel, with crime being a particular concern in the latter three countries.
Interestingly, the study found that girls living in neighbourhoods that encouraged physical activity were less likely to engage in sedentary behaviour, emphasizing the importance of creating environments that promote exercise and active play for both genders.
The findings suggest that a multi-faceted approach is needed to address teen inactivity. Anjana recommends collaboration between parents, policymakers, and technology companies to limit screen time, reduce social media engagement, and promote physical activity. This, he said, would help adolescents develop healthier habits and reduce their risk of chronic diseases.
With nearly 4,000 adolescents participating in the study, the researchers concluded that, despite differences in culture and environment, the patterns of sedentary behaviour were similar across countries, highlighting the universal nature of the problem and the need for global action.
