Gender and physical activity levels in Luxembourg: comparison between cisgender and non-cisgender adolescents

Background. The practice of physical activity (PA) varies with individual, social and environmental factors. Over the years, the prevalence of adolescents that practice PA has decreased, especially for girls. This gender disparity is already highlighted in the literature. However, PA levels and gender conformity (cisgender boy, cisgender girl, non-cisgender) have been less explored.
Purpose. Analyse the PA disparities by gender among adolescents in Luxembourg controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods: The sample comprises 5295 adolescents from the Health Behaviours in School-aged Children (HBSC) Luxembourg 2022 survey. The participants were enrolled in secondary schools only. They reported their sex registered at birth and their gender identity (boy, girl, neither or other). They were split in three groups: cisgender boys (adolescents who were born male and identify as a boy), cisgender girls (adolescents who were born female and identify as a girl) and non-cisgender (all others). PA levels were based on the WHO recommendation of moderate to vigorous PA. Binomial logistic regression was performed to analyse the association between PA levels by gender conformity controlling by age, migration, perceived wealth and family structure.
Results. In Luxembourg, 49.8% were cisgender boys, 47.1% were cisgender girls, and 3.2% were non-cisgender. Cisgender boys presented higher ODDs to achieve PA WHO recommendation than non-cisgender adolescents (OR=2.05, CI95%[1.21-3.47]), while cisgender girls presented similar ODDs ratio than non-cisgender adolescents (OR=.85, CI95%[0.50-1.45]).
Conclusions: Similarly to girls, non-cisgender adolescents in Luxembourg had lower ODDs to be physically active than cisgender boys. Future research should explore gender-related barriers and facilitators to PA practice.
Practical implications: Gender conformity should be considered in the development of programs to promote PA.