Relationships Among Children’s Independent Mobility, Active Transportation, and Physical Activity: A Multisite Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-196
Author(s):  
Richard Larouche ◽  
Joel D. Barnes ◽  
Sébastien Blanchette ◽  
Guy Faulkner ◽  
Negin A. Riazi ◽  
...  

Purpose: Children’s independent mobility (IM) may facilitate both active transportation (AT) and physical activity (PA), but previous studies examining these associations were conducted in single regions that provided limited geographical variability. Method: We recruited 1699 children (55.0% girls) in 37 schools stratified by level of urbanization and socioeconomic status in 3 regions of Canada: Ottawa, Trois-Rivières, and Vancouver. Participants wore a SC-StepRx pedometer for 7 days and completed a validated questionnaire from which we derived a 6-point IM index, the number of AT trips over a week, and the volume of AT to/from school (in kilometer per week). We investigated relationships among measures of IM, AT, and PA employing linear mixed models or generalized linear mixed models adjusted for site, urbanization, and socioeconomic status. Results: Each unit increase in IM was associated with 9% more AT trips, 19% higher AT volume, and 147 more steps per day, with consistent results across genders. Both measures of AT were associated with marginally higher PA when pooling boys’ and girls’ data. Children in Vancouver engaged in more AT. PA did not vary across site, urbanization, or socioeconomic status. Conclusion: IM was associated with more AT and PA regardless of where children lived, underscoring a need for IM interventions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Rajabi Gilan ◽  
Mehdi khezeli ◽  
Shirin Zardoshtian

Abstract Background Life satisfaction is an important component in designing strategies to improve health outcomes in different groups of society. This study aimed to investigate the effect of subjective socioeconomic status (SSS), social capital (SC), self-rated health (SRH), and physical activity (PA) on life satisfaction (LS) in Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1187 people (643 men and 544 women) lived in five western cities in Iran. The sampling method was multistage clustering. Data collection tool was a five part questionnaire including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status ladder, social capital scale, a question to measure physical activity, and the life satisfaction scale. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one way ANOVA, and Ordinal Logistic Regression. Result Life satisfaction was higher in married men and women compared to single and widows (p < 0.05). Among the variables included in the main model, the significant predictors were college education (− 0.500), marriage (coefficient = 0.422), age 25–34 years (coefficient = − 0.384), SRH (coefficient = 0.477), male sex (coefficient = 0.425), SSS (coefficient = 0.373), trust (coefficient = 0.115), and belonging and empathy (coefficient = 0.064). Conclusion SRH and SSS were significant predictors of life satisfaction in west Iranian society. Being married was associated with higher LS, but college education affects LS adversely.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2021-001865
Author(s):  
Christin Schilz ◽  
S Sammito

IntroductionActivity of daily life is an important key to maintaining and improving the health status. This is especially important for people in physically demanding jobs, such as firefighters, military and police.MethodsIn order to record the actual state of activity of daily life among soldiers, a step count measurement with a pedometer was carried out on 196 soldiers of the German Armed Forces over 7 days and supplemented by a questionnaire on lifestyle factors.ResultsThe subjects exceeded the recommended 7000–8000 steps per day, with the rank and file moving the least and the commissioned officers the most. It was also striking that the soldiers in the study moved an average of 2600 steps less per day on weekends than on weekdays.ConclusionsBased on these findings, targeted physical activity measures can be established for the identified target groups within the framework of corporate health management in order to ensure the physical fitness of soldiers on routine duty and on deployment.


Author(s):  
Andreas Fröberg ◽  
Christel Larsson ◽  
Christina Berg ◽  
Cecilia Boldemann ◽  
Anders Raustorp

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe and analyze accelerometer-measured sedentary time and physical activity (PA) among adolescents in a multicultural area characterized by low socioeconomic status (SES). Method: Seventh-graders (n=114 (girls n=66), mean age: 12.8±0.5 y) were recruited from three schools in a multicultural area of the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Sedentary time and PA were measured with ActiGraph™ accelerometers. Result: Of total wear-time, 70 (±6)% was sedentary, with girls being more sedentary than boys. Girls had less light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) than boys. Similar patterns were shown during in-school and out-of-school hours. During wear-time, 53% had a mean of ≥60 min of MVPA per day, but only 6% of the girls and 24% of the boys were sufficiently physically active every day. Girls had more sedentary bouts of ≥10 min and fewer MVPA bouts of ≥5 min per day than boys. Those who participated in organized sports spent a mean of 15 more minutes of MVPA per day compared to those who did not. No association was observed between body mass index (BMI) and sedentary time and PA. Conclusion: Only a few adolescents from a Swedish multicultural area characterized by low SES met the PA recommendations every day, and girls were more sedentary and less physically active than boys. Adolescents involved in organized sports had more of MVPA per day than their non-involved peers. Sedentary time and PA were not related to BMI.


Author(s):  
Marcel Ballin ◽  
Peter Nordström ◽  
Anna Nordström

In this cross-sectional study, the authors investigated the associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older adults. Accelerometer-derived light-intensity PA, moderate to vigorous PA, and steps per day were measured in (N = 4,652) 70-year-olds in Umeå, Sweden, during May 2012–November 2019. The MetS was assessed according to the American Heart Association/ National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute criteria. The prevalence of MetS was 49.3%. Compared with the reference, the odds ratios for MetS in increasing quartiles of light-intensity PA were 0.91 (0.77–1.09), 0.75 (0.62–0.89), and 0.66 (0.54–0.80). For moderate to vigorous PA, the corresponding odds ratios were 0.79 (0.66–0.94), 0.67 (0.56–0.80), and 0.56 (0.46–0.67). For steps per day, the odds ratios were 0.65 (0.55–0.78), 0.55 (0.46–0.65), and 0.45 (0.36–0.55). In summary, this study shows that greater amounts of PA, regardless of intensity, are associated with lower odds of MetS. With the limitation of being an observational study, these findings may have implications for the prevention of MetS in older adults.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-223
Author(s):  
Rachele De Giuseppe ◽  
Valeria Calcaterra ◽  
Ginevra Biino ◽  
Noelia Rodriguez ◽  
Anna Gerbaldo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Prevention of childhood obesity is recommended throughout interventions aiming at enhancing healthy dietary habits (DH) and increasing physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating DH and PA, in a sample of Italian children/adolescents. METHODS: We evaluated DH and PA by means of a previously validated questionnaire in 178 children/adolescents (88F/90M, 11.8±2.6 years): 49 normal weight (NW), 76 overweight (OW) and 53 with obesity (OB). Abdominal obesity was defined as Waist to Height Ratio (WHeR) >0.5. RESULTS: DH did not differ in NW subjects compared to OW and OB but higher PA score (p = 0.001) was observed in NW than OW and OB. No association was found between DH and WHeR, unlike PA. Four clusters of subjects were identified that could be defined by DH and PA; only one cluster, defined by PA, showed a significantly lower WHeR within subjects playing sports at least 3–4 hours/week. Moreover, subjects belonging to this cluster did not skip the main meals, eat a varied diet and drank milk at breakfast. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample PA performed at least 3–4 hours/week is inversely associated with abdominal fat deposition and is expected to positively impact health, protecting from abdominal obesity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilelmine Carayanni ◽  
Elpis Vlachopadopoulou ◽  
Dimitra Koutsouki ◽  
Gregory C. Bogdanis ◽  
Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of body mass index category, as well as of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the participation in organized physical activity (OPA) of schoolchildren attending primary and secondary school in Greece. Furthermore, to compare the difference between the two levels. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted on a representative elementary and secondary school cohort, derived using stratification and probability proportional to size (PPS) methodology. The final sample included 18,264 subjects, aged 6 to 15 years. Parents of all students and students of secondary schools fulfilled validated questionnaires evaluating socioeconomic status, and participation to OPA. International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut offs were used to classify the children. Univariate and multivariate logistic models examined factors associated with OPA. All analyses were stratified by school level. Results Sport participation was not reported in 37.7 and 54.4% of primary and secondary schoolchildren respectively. Having BMI within normal range, being male, having parents participating in an organized activity and a high socio-economic status seem to encourage participation in OPA in both school levels. Conclusions Children with normal BMI are more likely to participate in OPA. Parents as role model as well as higher socioeconomic status of the family emerge as important influencers. Participation in OPA declines as students enter secondary school. Interventions focusing on increasing physical education and activity into school daily program should be tailored to the specific needs of different weight categories and can possibly eliminate the impact of SES inequalities.


Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 979-987
Author(s):  
Yisel Pinillos Patiño ◽  
Enny Oviedo Argumedo ◽  
Roberto Rebolledo Cobos ◽  
Yaneth Herazo Beltrán ◽  
Patricia Valencia Fontalvo ◽  
...  

  El estilo de vida es concebido como un comportamiento cotidiano y que permanece en el tiempo, el cual evidencia los patrones individuales de conducta de una persona; además, y está determinado por factores sociales, culturales y personales. La etapa universitaria se constituye en este sentido, en una oportunidad para promover la modificación de hábitos por conductas saludables. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar los estilos de vida en estudiantes universitarios y las diferencias según el sexo y el estatus socioeconómico. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo de corte transversal con 508 universitarios a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta auto administrada sobre sus condiciones sociodemográficas, mientras que los estilos de vida fueron evaluados mediante el cuestionario de Perfil del Estilo de Vida de Pender II (PEVP-II). Se observó que solo el 24,02% (n=122) de la muestra controla frecuentemente los niveles de azúcares y de grasas el 21,85% (n=111), en su alimentación; más del 20% (n=102) no realiza actividad física, entre el 20 (n=102) y 30% (n=152) no regulan los azúcares o incluyen frutas y vegetales en sus dietas; los promedios inferiores al 60%(n=305) en los factores asociados contemplados en el estudio, infieren que los encuestados no mantienen un estilo de vida saludable. En el período de la vida universitaria, el estilo de vida está influenciado por cambios de comportamientos asociados a la formación personal, al entorno familiar y al contexto cultural y social en que desarrolla cada individuo. Los bajos niveles de práctica de actividad física y la presencia de hábitos considerados riesgosos en la dimensión nutricional, pueden estar relacionados con los estilos de vida, y propiciar el desarrollo de enfermedades no transmisibles que conllevan a incrementar la morbilidad y mortalidad en las etapas del curso de la vida del ser humano.  Abstract. Lifestyles are everyday behaviors that show an individual's way of life and are usually maintained over time. The university stage is an important period to establish healthy habits for the rest of life. The objective of the study was to determine the lifestyles of university students and the differences according to sex and socioeconomic status. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 508 university students to whom a self-administered survey was applied on their sociodemographic conditions, while their lifestyles were evaluated using the PEVP-II questionnaire. It was observed that only 24.02% of the sample frequently controlled the levels of sugars and fats, 21.85%, in their diet; more than 20% do not perform physical activity, between 20 and 30% do not regulate sugars or include fruits and vegetables in their diets; the averages lower than 60% in the associated factors contemplated in the study, infer that the respondents do not maintain a healthy lifestyle. Finally, it is concluded that low levels of physical activity practice and the presence of habits considered risky in the nutritional dimension, may be related to lifestyles, making this identification in the university environment can help decision-making for design of intervention strategies supported in the well-being of students.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document