Adolescence is a unique transitional stage of physical and psychological development. As preferences and behavioural choices adopted in adolescence influence lifelong physical activity habits and health outcomes in adulthood, rural transformation in low- and middle-income countries has the potential to significantly change traditional roles and shape the next generation. By using a mixed-method approach that integrates energy expenditure estimates from accelerometer devices with 24-hour recall time-use data from adolescent boys and girls and qualitative interviews with adolescents and their caregivers, this study sheds light on the patterns of quantity and quality of physical activity of 395 adolescents in Khammam and Mahbubnagar districts of rural Telangana, India. The study shows that energy expenditure and time use are highest for educational-related activities followed by leisure in both adolescent boys and girls. However, notwithstanding the process of rural transformation and the educational infrastructure and economic opportunities provided to adolescent boys and girls, social and cultural norms allow boys, especially in late adolescence to spend more time and energy in activities outside the home such as pursuing economic work, sports and socialising, while girls spend more time and energy at home doing domestic work. The quantitative and qualitative exploration of physical activity and time use among adolescents, as expounded in this study cutting across age groups and gender, highlights the need for changes in gendered norms and renewed government strategies and investments in that direction.

青春期是身体和心理发展的一个独特的过渡阶段。由于青春期的偏好和行为选择会影响成年后的终生体育活动习惯和健康结果，低收入和中等收入国家的农村转型有可能显着改变传统角色并塑造下一代。通过使用混合方法，将加速计设备的能量消耗估算与青春期男孩和女孩的 24 小时回忆时间使用数据以及对青少年及其照顾者的定性访谈相结合，这项研究揭示了能量消耗的数量和质量模式。印度泰兰加纳农村地区的 Khammam 和 Mahbubnagar 地区 395 名青少年的体力活动。研究表明，青春期男孩和女孩的能量消耗和时间消耗在教育相关活动中最高，其次是休闲活动。然而，尽管农村转型进程以及为青春期男孩和女孩提供了教育基础设施和经济机会，但社会和文化规范允许男孩，特别是在青春期后期，花更多的时间和精力从事家庭以外的活动，例如从事经济工作、运动和社交活动，而女孩则花更多的时间和精力在家做家务。正如本研究中所阐述的跨越年龄组和性别的对青少年身体活动和时间利用的定量和定性探索，突显了改变性别规范和更新政府在这方面的战略和投资的必要性。