AIM: There is a positive correlation between physical activity and health. The aim of this study was to describe self-related health, sports, level of physical activity and possible musculoskeletal complaints among Swedish high school students and to analyze whether there were any differences in these aspects between gender and students from different high school programs. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed and a total of 1,090 high school students answered it (468 males, 622 females), aged 16-26 years. RESULTS: Students from theoretical programs reported better self-related health than students from practical programs. Females from practical programs reported poorer self-related health than other students. Physically active students reported better self-related health than less physically active students. Fifty-seven percent reported to be physically active in sport. Students from practical programs were less physically active than those from theoretical programs. Females from the practical programs were the least active ones. Fifty percent of the students reported complaints; the percentage was higher among females. There was no difference between students from theoretical and practical programs in terms of reporting complaints. Back and knee complaints were the most common ones. CONCLUSION: According to these results it would be advisable for adolescents to be stimulated to participate in physical activity in order to increase the possibility of a healthy life.

Physical activities during leisure time and school hours as well as nutritional habits have changed over the past years by adolescents being less physically active and adopting a sedentary life-style. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible differences between foreign and Swedish high school students in terms of self-related health, physical activity, overweight, and possible complaints from the musculoskeletal system. METHODS: 1,090 high school students, 450 with foreign background and 640 with Swedish background, aged 16-26 years answered a questionnaire. RESULTS: A higher percentage of students with foreign background reported poor self-related health compared with students with Swedish background (p = .038). Students with a foreign background were to a greater extent less physically active than students of Swedish background (p = .003). No differences were found between the groups regarding musculoskeletal complaints. Students with foreign background were more often overweight than students with Swedish background and overweight was more frequent among males than females. Physical activity (moderate and high level) was concluded to be a factor with significant positive effect on self-related general health (moderate level p = .042, high level (p < .001), and musculoskeletal complaints were negative factors on self-related general health (p < .001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that adolescents with foreign background should participate in physical activity to prevent overweight and thereby improve physical health.

Background: Physical activity and sport participation often decline during adolescence. Aim: To investigate if physical exercise during 6 months could lead to a positive behavior of physical activity, improve physical fitness and self-related health in physically inactive female high school students. Methods: A prospective cluster-randomized controlled intervention study included 104 physically inactive female high school students, 60 in an intervention group and 44 controls. At baseline there were no group differences regarding self-related health. The intervention group exercised at least once per week. A questionnaire and physical fitness tests were used for evaluation, at baseline and 6 months later. Results: The intervention group improved their self-related health compared with the controls (P = .012). When divided into a regular (n = 27) and an irregular training group (n = 33) the regular training group improved their self-related health compared with the controls, while the irregular training group did not differ from the other groups. Maximal oxygen consumption was improved in the intervention group compared with the controls (P < .001). No group differences were found in muscle strength and endurance. Conclusion: Physical exercise at least once per week during 6 months improved physical fitness (maximal oxygen consumption) and self-related health in physically inactive female high school students. Keywords: adolescent,

BACKGROUND: Physical activity provides fundamental health benefits and plays a positive role in physical well-being. The aim of this present study was to investigate whether a 6-month physical activity program could influence physical self-esteem and frequency of physical activity in physically inactive female high school students in short- and long-term periods and whether personality traits were related to physical activity behaviour and compliance with the program. METHODS: The study was a cluster-randomised controlled intervention study including 104 physically inactive female high school students aged 16-19 years, 60 females in an intervention group and 44 females in a control group. The intervention group exercised at sport centres at least once per week during a 6-month period. Questionnaires were used for evaluation. RESULTS: At a 6-month follow up, the intervention group improved physical self-perception in all subdomains and significantly improved physical condition, physical self-worth and self-related health compared to the control group. At 1-year follow up, 25 females out of 53 females were still physically active, and all ratings remained almost the same as at the 6-month follow up. There were no particular personality traits that were dominant in the groups. CONCLUSION: A 6-month physical activity program can positively influence physical self-esteem and the frequency of physical activity, both from a short- and long-term perspective.