Associations Between Active Commuting to School and Objectively Measured Physical Activity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 826-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Anita Bjørkelund Børrestad ◽  
Lars Østergaard ◽  
Lars Bo Andersen ◽  
Elling Bere

Background:To provide more accurate assessment of commuting behavior and potential health effect, it is important to have accurate methods. Therefore, the current study aimed to a) compare questionnaire reported mode of commuting with objectively measured data from accelerometer and cycle computer, b) compare moderate vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children cycling vs. walking to school, and c) thus calculate possible underestimated MVPA, when using accelerometers to measure commuter cycling.Methods:A total of 78 children, average age 11.4 (SD = 0.5), participated in the study. Physical activity was measured with cycle computers and accelerometers for 4 days. Mode of commuting and demographic information was self-reported in a questionnaire.Results:Children who reported to cycle to school spent significantly more time cycling than those who walked to school, 53.6 (SD = ± 33.9) minutes per day vs. 25.5 (SD = ± 24.6) minutes per day (P = .002) (ie, showing that MVPA, measured by accelerometers, underestimated 28.1 minutes per day among children cycling to school vs. those not cycling to school).Conclusion:To provide more accurate assessment of active commuting in children and adolescents future studies should incorporate multiple methodologies such as global position systems (GPS), accelerometers, cycle computers, and self-reported measurements.

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Panter ◽  
Andrew Jones ◽  
Esther Van Sluijs ◽  
Simon Griffin

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between active commuting behavior, levels of physical activity and distance to school in 9–10 year old children. Participants were children (n = 1824) who took part in the SPEEDY study (Sport, Physical activity and Eating behavior: Environmental Determinants in Young people). For both boys and girls, significant positive associations were observed between walking to school and physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during weekday journey times (8–9am and 3–4pm), and the size of association also became stronger with increasing distance from school. Promotion of active commuting to school might be an important way to increase levels of physical activity in school children.


2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin L. Van Dijk ◽  
Renate H.M. De Groot ◽  
Hans H.C.M. Savelberg ◽  
Frederik Van Acker ◽  
Paul A. Kirschner

The main goal of this study was to investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity and academic achievement in adolescents. Students in Grades 7 and 9 (N = 255) were included. Overall, we found no significant dose–response association between physical activity and academic achievement. However, in Grade 7 total physical activity volume (Total PA) was negatively associated with academic achievement, while moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was negatively associated with both academic achievement and mathematics performance. In contrast, in Grade 9 both Total PA and MVPA were positively associated with mathematics performance. In addition, the overall association between MVPA and academic achievement followed an inverted U-shaped curve. Finally, Total PA was positively associated with executive functioning, while executive functioning in turn mediated the associations between Total PA and both academic achievement and mathematics performance. These results indicate that the association between physical activity and academic achievement in adolescents is complex and might be affected by academic year, physical activity volume and intensity, and school grade.


2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 549-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Twardzik ◽  
Suzanne Judd ◽  
Aleena Bennett ◽  
Steven Hooker ◽  
Virginia Howard ◽  
...  

BackgroundThere have been mixed findings regarding the relationship between walkability and level of physical activity in adults.MethodsParticipants from The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort (N=7561) were used to examine the association between Walk Score and physical activity measured via accelerometry. The subsample included geographically diverse adults, who identified as black or white, and were over the age of 45. Linear regression was used to examine the direct effects, as well as the interaction, of Walk Score by sex, age and race.ResultsThe majority of participants lived in a ‘Very Car-Dependent’ location (N=4115). Only 527 lived in a location that was ‘Very Walkable/Walker’s Paradise’. Living in a location with a Walk Score of ‘Very Car-Dependent’ compared with ‘Very Walkable/Walker’s Paradise’ was associated with 19% (0.81; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.90) lower predicted minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, after adjustment for covariates. There was no evidence of statistically significant interactions between Walk Score and sex, age or race (p>0.05).ConclusionAccumulated daily time in moderate to vigorous physical activity was higher for participants living in neighbourhoods designated as ‘Very Walkable/Walker’s Paradise’. This effect was not moderated by sex, age or race of participants.


Author(s):  
Masashi Kanai ◽  
Kazuhiro P. Izawa ◽  
Hiroki Kubo ◽  
Masafumi Nozoe ◽  
Kyoshi Mase ◽  
...  

There is little evidence on how perceptions of the built environment may influence physical activity among post-stroke patients. This study aimed to explore the associations between perceived built environment attributes and objectively measured physical activity outcomes in community-dwelling ambulatory patients with stroke. This cross-sectional study recruited patients who could walk outside without assistance. We assessed both objectively measured physical activity outcomes such as number of steps and duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with an accelerometer and the patients’ perceived surrounding built environment with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environmental Module. Sixty-one patients (67.0 years old) were included. The multiple linear regression analysis showed significant associations of the presence of sidewalks (β = 0.274, p = 0.016) and access to recreational facilities (β = 0.284, p = 0.010) with the number of steps taken (adjusted R2 = 0.33). In contrast, no significant associations were found between perceived built environment attributes and MVPA. These findings may help to suggest an approach to promote appropriate physical activity in patients with stroke depending on their surrounding built environment.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e036991
Author(s):  
Nils Abel Aars ◽  
Sigurd Beldo ◽  
Bjarne Koster Jacobsen ◽  
Alexander Horsch ◽  
Bente Morseth ◽  
...  

ObjectivesPhysical activity may be important in deterring the obesity epidemic. This study aimed to determine whether objectively measured physical activity in first year of upper secondary high school predicted changes in body composition over 2 years of follow-up in a cohort of Norwegian adolescents (n=431).DesignA longitudinal study of adolescents (mean age of 16 (SD 0.4) at baseline, 60.3% girls) participating in the Fit Futures studies 1 (2010–2011) and 2 (2012–2013).SettingAll eight upper secondary high schools in two municipalities in Northern Norway.ParticipantsStudents participating in both studies and under the age of 18 at baseline and with valid measurement of physical activity at baseline and body composition in both surveys.Primary and secondary outcomesChange in objectively measured body mass index and waist circumference and change in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measured fat mass index, lean mass index (LMI) and appendicular LMI (aLMI) between baseline and follow-up.ResultsAt baseline, boys had significantly higher physical activity volume (p=0.01) and spent on average of 6.4 (95% CI 2.1 to 10.6) more minutes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than girls (p<0.01). In girls, multivariate regression analyses showed that more sedentary time was negatively associated with changes in LMI (p<0.01) and aLMI (p<0.05), whereas more light activity had opposite effects on these measures (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). No significant associations between measures of baseline physical activity and changes in body composition parameters were observed in boys.ConclusionsIn this cohort of Norwegian adolescents, sedentary and light physical activity was associated with changes in LMI and aLMI in girls, but not boys. Minutes spent in MVPA in first year of upper secondary high school was not associated with changes in measures of body composition in neither sex after 2 years.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla E. Foster ◽  
Timothy K. Behrens ◽  
Abigail L. Jager ◽  
David A. Dzewaltowski

Background:This study evaluated the effect of elimination and nonelimination games on objectively measured physical activity and psychosocial responses in children.Methods:A total of 29 children in grades 4 to 6 (65.5% male; 10.5 ± 1.0 years old) wore an accelerometer while participating in 2 elimination and 2 nonelimination games. Activity counts were collected using a 30-second epoch and converted to METs to determine minutes spent in sedentary behavior and light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Self-efficacy, enjoyment, and peer-victimization were assessed on 4 occasions (before and after 2 elimination and 2 nonelimination games).Results:Overall, girls spent more time in sedentary behavior compared with boys. Children engaged in significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during nonelimination games compared with elimination games. Furthermore, children significantly increased self-efficacy after playing both game sessions. A significant interaction between type of game and time of measurement in the prediction of enjoyment showed that enjoyment modestly increased after elimination games and slightly decreased after nonelimination games. There were no differences in peer-victimization.Conclusion:This study provides preliminary evidence that nonelimination games provide more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity compared with elimination games, but elimination games may be more enjoyable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Fortune ◽  
Meriel Norris ◽  
Andrea Stennett ◽  
Cherry Kilbride ◽  
Grace Lavelle ◽  
...  

Background: Identifying correlates of physical activity (PA) for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential to design effective PA interventions.Methods: Participants completed a battery of questionnaires and wore an ActiGraph accelerometer. Light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (min/day) were calculated. Associations were examined using multiple linear regression adjusted for demographic and clinical confounders.Results: Fifty-eight adults with MS participated (mean ± SD age: 56.8 ± 9.2 yr; 67% women). MS type was associated with time in LPA. Participants with secondary progressive MS (B = −54.0, 95% CI −84.7 to −23.3) and primary progressive MS (B = −42.9, 95% CI −77.5 to −8.3) spent less time in LPA than those with relapsing remitting MS. Walking capacity, assessed using the 12-item MS walking scale (MSWS-12), was associated with time in MVPA (B = −0.36, 95% CI −0.72 to −0.01).Conclusion: This work identifies walking capacity and type of MS as correlates of PA, which may indicate development of interventions to promote PA.


Author(s):  
Kristina Larsson ◽  
Örjan Ekblom ◽  
Lena V. Kallings ◽  
Maria Ekblom ◽  
Victoria Blom

A physically active lifestyle incurs health benefits and physically active individuals show reduced reactivity to psychosocial stressors. However, the findings are inconclusive and are based on self-reported physical activity and sedentary time. The present study aimed at studying the associations between psychological stressors (job demand, control, support, JD-C-S) and objectively measured physical activity (PA) on various intensities from sedentary (SED) to vigorous physical activity. The participants were 314 employees from a cross-sectional study. PA data were collected with the accelerometer ActiGraph GT3X (Pensacola, FL, USA), SED data with the inclinometer activPAL (PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland, UK), and psychosocial stressors with a web questionnaire. Results showed that vigorous-intensity PA was negatively associated with demand (β −0.15, p < 0.05), even when adjusted for the covariates. SED was negatively associated to support (β −0.13, p < 0.05). Stress significantly moderated relations between support and sedentary time (β −0.12, p < 0.05). Moderate PA (MVPA) was negatively associated with demand, but only when controlling for overtime (β −0.13, p < 0.05). MVPA was also negatively associated with control (β −0.15, p < 0.05) but not when work engagement was included in the model. Being more physically active and spending less time sedentary may help to handle job situations with high demand and low support.


2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy JW Daly-Smith ◽  
Jim McKenna ◽  
Duncan Radley ◽  
Jonathan Long

Objective: To investigate the value of additional days of active commuting for meeting a criterion of 300+ minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; 60+ mins/day x 5) during the school week. Methods: Based on seven-day diaries supported by teachers, binary logistic regression analyses were used to predict achievement of MVPA criteria according to days of active commuting to and from school. MVPA was recorded across five time points: (a) before school, (b) walking/cycling to and from school, (c) during school, (d) in school-based clubs and (e) during leisure time. The study was conducted in Derby, UK, in June 2006. Results: Active commuting was reported by 4218 (78 per cent of 5422) children for an average daily commuting time of 18.4 ± 16.4 minutes. Children who commuted on more days in the week were most likely to achieve the MVPA criterion. Every day of active commuting doubled the chances of meeting the MVPA criterion; in Year 10 girls this effect was stronger (odds ratio 6.45). Conclusion: Results confirm the ubiquity of active commuting among young people. Even one additional day of active commuting helps to meet established criteria. In older girls active commuting is uniquely powerful in contributing to attainment of public health targets of MVPA.


2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Sallis ◽  
Wendell C. Taylor ◽  
Marsha Dowda ◽  
Patty S. Freedson ◽  
Russell R. Pate

Correlates of physical activity were examined in young people in grades 1 through 12, and analyses were conducted separately for eight age/grade and sex subgroups. Twenty-one explanatory variables were assessed by parental report. Physical activity was assessed in 781 young people via parent report, and 200 wore an accelerometer for seven days. Between 11% and 36% of parent-reported child vigorous physical activity was explained. The most consistent correlates were peer support and use of afternoon time for active rather than sedentary recreation. Peer support was the only significant correlate of objectively monitored activity in multiple subgroups.


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