Selinus EN, Durbeej N, Zhan Y, et al. - An elevated risk of being less physically active in adolescence was found in children with inattention symptoms; this observation highlights the importance of encouraging children and adolescents with inattention to engage in physical activity.

• According to growing evidence, physical activity can improve attention.

• In a cohort of 3949 Swedish children (1884 boys and 2065 girls) with data obtained at ages 9 (or 12) and 15, how symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity / impulsivity in childhood were related to physical activity in adolescence was examined.

• Symptoms of inattention in childhood (9/12) forecasted less physical activity in adolescence (age 15) (OR = 0.83), whereas the opposite was found to be true for hyperactivity/impulsivity (OR = 1.08).

• These links persisted when considering likely confounders including neurodevelopmental and neurodevelopmental related comorbidity.