Does Physical Activity in Adolescence Affect Adult Weight?

Obesity in America is epidemic in adults as well as in children. Recent studies have identified factors that contribute to obesity in youths, including watching television and consuming fast food, soda, and juice. In a longitudinal cohort study, investigators examined the relation between physical activity in adolescence and weight status in adulthood among 3345 teens (in grades 8 through 12) enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

At baseline, teens reported the frequency of participation in various types of physical activity, either school-based or extracurricular, during the previous week. Physical activities were divided into three types: (1) rollerblading, roller-skating, skateboarding, and biking; (2) baseball…