Relationships between adolescent body mass index, physical activity, and sensory-processing patterns

Background. Trends show a significant decline with adolescent physical activity (PA). Knowledge regarding how sensory-processing patterns and body mass index (BMI) relate to adolescents' PA participation is scarce. Purpose. This study investigated if relationships exist between adolescent BMI, sensory processing, and PA participation. Method. This correlational study collected data from 141 adolescents who completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Adolescent. Their BMIs were calculated using self-reported age, height, and weight. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-tailed Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Findings. Adolescents with different sensory-processing patterns reported participation in both similar and distinct PAs. Participation in PA and BMI shared no significant correlation. Sensory sensitivity and BMI total (r(s) -= -.171, p = .044) and BMI percentile (rs = -.191, p = .024) demonstrated significant correlations. Analysis revealed a correlation between sensory seeking patterns and PA (rs = .224, p = .008) as well as correlations among sensory quadrants and participation in specific PAs. Implications. Occupational therapists should consider an adolescent's sensory preferences when recommending PA interventions.