Physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents in the Visegrad Group countries: a cross-country comparison

Background Physical activity levels among adolescents in Central Europe vary substantially by gender and national context, yet comparative analyses across multiple activity domains remain limited. This study examined gender and country differences in domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Material and methods Data were collected between March and May 2025 using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form). A total of 2,006 students provided valid physical activity data. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare gender and country differences, with effect sizes expressed as r and η². Results Boys were generally more active than girls, particularly in school/work-related, leisure-time, and total physical activity, while girls accumulated more weekday sitting time. Cross-country differences were found, especially among females. Polish adolescents displayed the highest activity levels across several IPAQ domains, whereas Slovak adolescents consistently reported the lowest levels, particularly in transport-related and active transport activity. Sedentary behavior showed fewer cross-country differences, with notable variation only among girls. Conclusions These findings highlight substantial gender- and country-specific disparities in adolescent movement behavior across Central Europe. Tailored, context-sensitive interventions and policies are needed to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary time in this population.