Patterns of sport participation and physical activity in urban Mexican youth

The purpose of this study was to assess participation and motivation for sport, and level and types of physical activity in urban Mexican school youth across three socioeconomic levels. This study also considered current growth status (height and weight) to provide an estimate of nutritional status (under- and overnutrition) and to place the sample in a secular context. Approximately 1,100 Mexican school youth between the ages of 9 and 18 years participated in a cross-sectional study involving sport preferences, motivation for sport, and level of physical activity. Heights and weights were measured and the BMI calculated for 1,085 subjects of the sample, and the females were asked their menarcheal status. Older primary school and high school youth (n = 591) completed surveys on sport and activity participation. Males and females differ in sport preferences. Females appear to prefer individual lifetime activities, whereas males seem to prefer sport activities. Reasons for sport participation in urban Mexican youth are similar to those for United States youth, with "fun" the primary reason for sport participation in urban Mexican youth. Physical fitness and coaching issues also impact sport motivation. However, among reasons for dropping out of sport, urban Mexican youth appear more concerned about their studies than United States youth. Urban Mexican males are more ego oriented in their sport motivation than females, while there is no difference in task orientation. Most males in this study are in the active category of the PAQ-A, while most females are in the inactive category. The very active category has the fewest representatives for both genders. Younger males and females (9--13 years) are consistently more active than their older counterparts (14--18 years). Urban Mexican male sport participants have higher activity scores and self-perceived physical condition than non-participants. Female sport participants have higher activity scores, self-perceived physical condition and self-perceived activity levels than non-participants. Sociodemographic and biological variables account for 1% to 14% of the variance in sport participation status and physical activity score. The BMI does not differ between sport participants and non-participants, or between inactive, active and very active activity categories. The prevalence of males 9--13 years who are at risk of overweight is 38%, and that for females 9--13 is 29%. The prevalence decreases with age. A positive secular trend in size (stature and body weight) has occurred in Mexico City youth between 1926 and 1998. No secular change appears in age at menarche in urban Mexican females.