Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Sedentary lifestyles and lack of interest in physical activity are a concern that impacts health, academic performance, and student involvement in educational activities. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review of sedentary lifestyles in secondary school students, using scientific literature published in the last five years (2021-2025). The methodology was based on the PRISMA approach through a systematic review, based on the search and selection of research in the Scopus, PubMed, and SciELO databases using the terms “sedentary lifestyle in secondary school students.” The results show moderate interest in physical activity, associated with the perception of competence and the social context of the student body. The perception of a sedentary lifestyle is high, associated with the regular use of technological devices. Likewise, men show slightly greater motivation than women toward physical activity, although both genders have similar levels of physical inactivity. In conclusion, the coexistence of low participation in physical activity, together with a high perception of sedentary lifestyles among students, highlights the need to further investigate the factors that influence the lack of motivation to engage in physical activity and the tendency toward sedentary lifestyles.
References
Antunes, H., Rodrigues, A., Sabino, B., Alves, R., Correia, A. L., & Lopes, H. (2024). The effect of motivation on physical activity among middle and high school students. Sports, 12(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12060154
Arrizabalaga, J. J., Sánchez-Martínez, F., Villagrasa, B., Domínguez, M., & Pérez-Farinós, N. (2021). Childhood obesity in Spain and associated factors: Results of the ALADINO study 2019. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 38.
Christiansen, F., Ahlqvist, V. H., Nyroos, M., Löfgren, H., & Berglind, D. (2021). Physical activity through a classroom-based intervention: A pragmatic non-randomized trial among Swedish adolescents in upper secondary school. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111041
Cifuentes, Á. A. S., Moreno-Lavaho, E. A., & Galindo, K. C. R. (2025). Sport and physical activity in the face of a sedentary university reality: A narrative review. Sportis: Scientific Technical Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.2.11332
Durán Vinagre, M. Á., Leador Albano, V. M., Sánchez Herrera, S., & Feu Molina, S. (2021). Motivación y TIC como reguladores de la actividad física en adolescentes: Una revisión sistemática. Retos, 42, 785–797. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v42i0.88120
Esteban-Torres, D., Abarca-Sos, A., Murillo-Pardo, B., & Fernández-Baños, R. (2023). Educación física para la mejora de los determinantes de salud. Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte, 18(57), 44–57.
Ferriz-Valero, A. (2024). Los factores motivacionales que predicen la selección de Educación Física optativa: Prospectiva en alumnado de bachillerato. Psicología Educativa, 30(2), 85 - 92. https://doi.org/10.5093/psed2024a9
Gallardo-Rodríguez, R., Léniz-Maturana, L., Poblete-Valderrama, F., Vesga-Oviedo, S., Cortes-Roco, G., Miranda-Osorio, R., & Rodas-Kürten, V. (2025). Physical activity and sedentary behaviors of mothers, fathers, and children of preschool and school age. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2025.130119
Garrido-López, B., Fernández-Villarino, M. Á., González-Valeiro, M., Andreu-Caravaca, L., Martins, J., & Dopico-Calvo, X. (2025). Gender differences in eating habits, screen time, health-related quality of life and body image perception in primary and secondary school students: A cross-sectional study in Spain. Education Sciences, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15040470
González-Gutiérrez, I., Barcala-Furelos, R., & Ato-García, M. (2025). ¿Influye el profesorado de Educación Física en la intención de práctica de actividad físico-deportiva extracurricular? Estudio de la percepción del alumnado en función del género y la etapa educativa. Journal of Sport and Health Research, 17(1), 73–86. https://doi.org/10.58727/jshr.108418
Kuzik, N., Poitras, V. J., Tremblay, M. S., Lee, E.-Y., Hunter, S., Carson, V., & Chaput, J.-P. (2022). School-related sedentary behaviours and indicators of health and well-being among children and youth: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01258-4
Lamadrid Castro, S., Arana Baquero, W. D. J., Cuello Cerchiaro, E. J., Suárez Carrillo, E. B., & Peñuela-Epalza, M. E. (2023). Estilo de vida, sobrepeso y obesidad en estudiantes de ciencias de la salud durante el confinamiento por COVID-19 en Barranquilla (Colombia). Revista Salud Uninorte, 39(2), 565–583. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.39.02.612.986
Li, H., Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Liu, F., & Chen, P. (2024). Physical activity and sedentary behavior among school-going adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: Insights from the Global School-based Student Health Survey. PeerJ, 12. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17097
Montalt-García, S., García-Massó, X., & Monfort-Torres, G. (2023). Relación entre actividad física, autopercepción física, hábitos de vida saludable y nivel socioeconómico en el alumnado adolescente. Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación, (49), 1027–1037. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v49.97045
Pezoa-Fuentes, P., Contreras Gutiérrez, B., Godoy Valenzuela, L., Palma Morales, C., & Merellano-Navarro, E. (2025). Personal and social influence on the practice of physical activity in middle school students in the Maule region: The role of gender and age. E-Balonmano.com: Revista de Ciencias del Deporte, 21, 253–264. https://doi.org/10.17398/1885-7019.21.253
Poveda-Acelas, C. A., & Poveda-Acelas, D. C. (2021). Relación entre actividad física, sedentarismo y exceso de peso en adolescentes de los Santanderes, Colombia. Salud UIS, 53. https://doi.org/10.18273/saluduis.53.e:21024
Rey-Brandariz, J., Rial-Vázquez, J., Varela-Lema, L., Santiago-Pérez, M. I., Candal-Pedreira, C., Guerra-Tort, C., Ruano-Ravina, A., & Pérez-Ríos, M. (2023). Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity from a comprehensive perspective. Gaceta Sanitaria, 37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2023.100309
Rezende, L. F. M., de Sá, T. H., Ferrari, G. L. M., & Hallal, P. C. (2023). Association between school environment with sedentary behavior and physical activity intensity in children. Scientific Reports, 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33732-9
Rodríguez-Torres, A.-F., Marín-Marín, J.-A., López-Belmonte, J., & Pozo-Sánchez, S. (2024). Análisis de la actividad física y la alimentación en estudiantes de Ecuador y la influencia del apoyo familiar e institucional. Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación, (54), 279–288. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v54.103479
Sal-de-Rellán, A., Hernández-Suárez, Á., & Hernaiz-Sánchez, A. (2025). Gamification and motivation in adolescents: Systematic review from Physical Education. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1575104
Sales, D., Rezende, L. F. M., Ferrari, G. L. M., de Sá, T. H., & Hallal, P. C. (2023). Association between school environment with sedentary behavior and physical activity intensity in children. Scientific Reports, 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33732-9
San Martín González, P., Moral-García, J. E., Amatria-Jiménez, M., & Arroyo-del Bosque, R. (2025). Promotion of healthy habits in adolescents: An interdisciplinary study on motivation towards physical education, Mediterranean diet and physical activity. Behavioral Sciences, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060778
Silva, D. R., & Werneck, A. O. (2023). Are more physical education classes related to less time in leisure-time sedentary behavior? An analysis including adolescents from 73 countries. BMC Public Health, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16703-7
Wilhite, K., Booker, B., Huang, B.-H., Antczak, D., Corbett, L., Parker, P., Noetel, M., Rissel, C., Lonsdale, C., & del Pozo Cruz, B. (2022). Combinations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep duration and their associations with physical, psychological, and educational outcomes in children and adolescents: A systematic review. American Journal of Epidemiology, 192(4), 665–679. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwac212
Woessner, M. N., Tacey, A., Levinger-Limor, A., Parker, A. G., Levinger, P., & Levinger, I. (2021). The evolution of technology and physical inactivity: The good, the bad, and the way forward. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.655491
World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2022). Global status report on physical activity 2022: Let’s get moving! World Health Organization.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.