Temporal variations and sociodemographic differences in no muscle-strengthening exercise among adolescents: A 10-year repeated cross-sectional study

Yu, Weijun and Araujo, Raphael and Clark, Cain and Brown, Denver M. Y. and Zhang, Kai and Zhang, Danqing and Chen, Sitong (2026) Temporal variations and sociodemographic differences in no muscle-strengthening exercise among adolescents: A 10-year repeated cross-sectional study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188 (In Press)

Text ScandJMedSci_No_MSE_Trend_analysis_5-2-2026_.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (278kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

No or low physical activity (PA) is an emerging risk indicator, but existing studies have not focused specifically on the muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) component of the PA guidelines. The aims of this study are to: (1) investigate the prevalence of no-MSE among United States (US) adolescents; (2) examine the sociodemographic correlates of no-MSE, and finally (3) assess the trends in no-MSE from 2011 to 2021. Repeated cross-sectional data from the 2011 to 2021 cycles of the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance System are used, which include 78,697 US adolescents aged 14–17 years (girls: weighted% = 49.4%). Participants self-reported their sociodemographic variables and days of MSE. No-MSE is operationalised as 0 days of MSE per week. Survey-weighted binary logistic regression models are used to examine the associations between the sociodemographic variables and the prevalence of no-MSE. Estimates are presented as odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 28.5% of adolescents reported no-MSE, of whom girls [OR = 2.12 (2.02-2.23), older adolescents aged 16 or 17 years (OR range = 1.31-1.51, p < 0.001), Black or African American adolescents [OR = 1.14 (1.05-1.24)], and adolescents with underweight, overweight or obesity (OR range = 1.18-1.75, p < 0.001) are more likely to report no-MSE, compared to their respective counterparts. No-MSE increased from 2011 to 2021 (p for trend < 0.001), with the trend seen across all sociodemographic subgroups. Over one in four US adolescents do not engage in MSE, with higher probability of not engaging among specific demographic and health status-based subgroups. Given the rising prevalence of no-MSE and persistent disparities, targeted and tailored interventions as well as equity-oriented policies are urgently needed to expand access to MSE opportunities for US adolescents.

Item Type:	Article
Dates:	Date Event 20 February 2026 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	time trends, Youth Risk Behavioural Surveillance System, resistance exercise, adolescent
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Life and Sports Sciences
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2026 13:42
Last Modified:	11 Mar 2026 13:42
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16920

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