Two-year changes in body composition, physical activity, and selected metabolic risk factors among adolescents living in the North West province of South Africa: the PAHL study

The purpose of this study was to determine the two-year changes in body composition, physical activity (PA) and selected metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity and blood pressure) among adolescents from the North West Province of South Africa. A total 289, 14-year-old adolescents (116 boys and 173 girls) participated in the study. PA level was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Abdominal obesity was determined using the waist circumference measurements (WC) and blood pressure was determined by Omron MIT Elite Plus. Overweight gradually increased by 7.6%. The increase was higher among the girls (12.2%) compared to the boys to (2.2%), (p ≤ 0.001). Participation in low-physical activity (LPA) increased by 8.2% for the whole group and moderate PA gradually decreased (15.2%). With regard to the metabolic risk factors, boys had significantly higher WC at every measurement point (p ≤ 0.001) compared to girls. The percentage of adolescents in the prehypertensive / hypertensive category increased (5%) and the increase was greater in girls than boys (p ≤ 0.001). Waist circumference was positively related to BMI, percentage body fat and sum of skinfolds. In conclusion, adolescent girls were more overweight, obese and less physically active compared to the boys over a period of tim