PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Physical activity is a crucial factor in promoting health and preventing diseases among the global population. However, there are still high levels of physical inactivity among people of all ages. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing as a precautionary measure, there may have been a considerable decrease in physical activity levels among adolescents. This study aimed to analyze the practice of physical activity outside the school environment among adolescents in a city in the state of Maranhão during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a qualitative-quantitative approach. A total of 198 students from two schools in the city of Pastos Bons - Maranhão, with a mean age of 16.2±0.88 years, participated in the study. The research received approval from the Ethics and Research Committee of the State University of Maranhão, opinion 5.019.531. The survey was conducted by administering the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) in November 2021. The study found a prevalence of physical inactivity of 92% and 95.2% for males and females, respectively. Participants who engaged in some form of physical activity/exercise mostly did so at home, with an average frequency of 2.8 times per week. The findings of this study indicate that adolescents were engaging in little or no physical activity/exercise outside the school environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation may be related to the closure of schools, gyms, and the prohibition of activities in parks and squares during the social distancing measures imposed by the pandemic.