Global prevalence of barriers and facilitators to physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Bruno Oliveira Amorim Sampaio; Armando Rodrigues de Alencar Santos; Marcus Vinícius Nascimento-Ferreira; Augusto César Ferreira De Moraes

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103230

Global prevalence of barriers and facilitators to physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Prev Med Rep. 2025 Sep 10:58:103230. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103230. eCollection 2025 Oct.

Authors

Bruno Oliveira Amorim Sampaio¹, Armando Rodrigues de Alencar Santos², Marcus Vinícius Nascimento-Ferreira³, Augusto César Ferreira De Moraes⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, SP, Brazil.
² Postgraduate Program in Science and Health Education, Federal University of Tocantins, Tocantins 77001-090, TO, Brazil.
³ Federal University of Tocantins, Palmas 77650-000, Brazil.
⁴ The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Public Health in Austin, Department of Epidemiology, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin 78701, TX, USA.

Abstract

Objectives: This study systematically reviewed the literature on the prevalence of barriers and facilitators to physical activity in children and adolescents and provided global prevalence estimates through meta-analysis.

Methods: Articles published in PubMed (1966-), Scopus (1970-), and Web of Science (1900-) were searched from database inception through May 30, 2024. The search was conducted between May 15 and May 30, 2024. Sixteen studies were included, with 14 pooled for adolescents and 2 for children. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024512962).

Results: In children, the prevalence of barriers to physical activity ranged from 12 % to 26 %, with a pooled prevalence of 23 % (95 % CI, 19 %, 27 %). Facilitators in children ranged from 12 % to 33 %, with a pooled prevalence of 28 % (95 % CI, 24 %, 33 %). Among adolescents, barriers ranged from 3 % to 65 %, with a pooled prevalence of 32 % (95 % CI, 20 %, 44 %). Facilitators in adolescents ranged from 9 % to 21 %, with a pooled prevalence of 10 % (95 % CI, 8 %, 11 %).

Conclusions: Barriers are more prevalent in adolescents, while facilitators are more prevalent in children. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and reveal research gaps, particularly regarding barriers in children and facilitators in adolescents.

Keywords: Exercise; Lifestyle; Physical inactivity; Sedentary behavior; Youth.

Publication types

Review