Trends of low physical activity among Iranian adolescents across urban and rural areas during 2006–2011

This study investigated trends of low physical activity among Iranian adolescents (ages 15–19 years) in urban and rural areas from 2006 to 2011 using data from the National Surveys of Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (n = 12,178). Physical activity was measured via the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and complex survey methods with multinomial logistic regression modeled activity levels. The proportion with low physical activity increased between 2006 and 2011 in both urban and rural settings. Compared with urban peers, rural girls had lower prevalence of low and moderate physical activity (PR 0.59, 95% CI 0.47–0.74 for both), and rural boys also had lower prevalence (low PR 0.56, 95% CI 0.43–0.75; moderate PR 0.60, 95% CI 0.48–0.74). Overall, physical inactivity increased in both genders; in rural areas, only girls showed a rising tendency toward sedentary behavior over 2006–2011.