Does organized sport participation during youth predict healthy habits in adulthood? : A 28-year longitudinal study

Health behaviors in youth can predict the same behaviors later in life, but the role of sport participation in predicting healthy lifestyle habits is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between participation in organized youth sport and adult healthy lifestyle habits. Data from the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) with a 28‐year follow‐up were used. The participation in sport‐club training sessions was self‐reported by 9‐18‐year‐olds in 1983 and 1986 (n = 1285). During 2011, participants (aged 37‐43‐year old) reported their smoking status, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity. Odd ratios (OR) were calcula…