Aim: Promoting physical activity is one of the main goals of health-promotion policies. The period of adolescence is characterised by a high rate of abandonment of any physical activity. In this age range, moreover, the risk of assuming substances in order to improve muscular-mass or athletic results is concrete. This study quantifies the involvement in physical activities and substance assumption in a sample of 6915 students aged 14 to 18 years and living in 7 different areas, mostly in northern Italy.
Methods: The survey's tool is an adapted and modified vision of the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance questionnaire, created by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Results: The study showed a high percentage of the sample not involved in any form of physical activity out of school (33.8%), more among girls (44.1%) than boys (21.2%). Between 14 and 18 years, a continuous reduction of involvement in physical activity is evident, while the percentage of totally physically inactive subjects rises from 30.1% to 43%. Finally, 5.6% in our sample admitted to have been using substances to improve muscular-mass or athletic results at least once in the past.
Conclusion: According to this study, only a minority of the interviewed adolescents is involved in a regular physical activity. In males, using substances to improve physical strength showed to be rather diffused. Specific health promotion projects are suggested.