scholarly journals Is neighbourhood walkability related to body mass index among different age groups? A cross-sectional study of Canadian urban areas

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e032475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Thielman ◽  
Ray Copes ◽  
Laura C Rosella ◽  
Maria Chiu ◽  
Heather Manson

BackgroundStudies of neighbourhood walkability and body mass index (BMI) have shown mixed results, possibly due to biases from self-reported outcomes or differential effects across age groups. Our objective was to examine relationships between walkability and objectively measured BMI in various age groups, in a nationally representative population.MethodsThe study population came from the 2007–2011 Canadian Health Measures Survey, a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative Canadian population. In our covariate-adjusted analyses, we included survey respondents aged 6–79 who were not pregnant, did not live in rural areas, were not missing data and were not thin/underweight. We used objectively measured height and weight to calculate BMI among adults aged 18–79 and zBMI among children aged 6–17. We categorised respondents into walkability quintiles based on their residential Street Smart Walk Score values. We performed linear regression to estimate differences between walkability quintiles in BMI and zBMI. We analysed adults and children overall; age subgroups 6–11, 12–17, 18–29, 30–44, 45–64 and 65–79; and sex subgroups.ResultsThe covariate-adjusted models included 9265 respondents overall. After adjustment, differences between walkability quintiles in BMI and zBMI were small and not statistically significant, except for males aged 6–17 in the second-highest walkability quintile who had significantly lower zBMIs than those in the lowest quintile.ConclusionAfter accounting for confounding factors, we did not find evidence of a relationship between walkability and BMI in children or adults overall, or in any age subgroup with sexes combined. However, post hoc analysis by sex suggested males aged 6–17 in more walkable areas may have lower zBMIs.

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 580-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingeborg Lund ◽  
Elisabeth Kvaavik ◽  
Mari Nygård ◽  
Bo T. Hansen

Background: In Norway, snus use among women has increased substantially over the last decade, particularly in younger age groups. Snus use is associated with increased morbidity among men, but few studies have addressed health consequences of snus use among women. Aim: To investigate the associations between body mass index (BMI) and female snus use, and between self-rated general health and female snus use. Methods: A nationally representative net sample of 13,756 women in Norway, aged 18–45 years, participated in a survey on lifestyle and health. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to address associations between snus use and BMI/general health, adjusting for age and lifestyle factors. Results: Compared to never users of snus, daily snus users had a lower likelihood of high BMI (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.68–1.00), a higher likelihood of low BMI (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.14–2.33), and a higher likelihood of poor/fair health (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.08–1.90). Former and occasional snus users did not differ from never users in terms of BMI or general health in multiply adjusted models. Daily smokers had the highest likelihood of reporting poor/fair health (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.8–2.63) relative to never smokers. Conclusions: Daily female snus use was associated with a lower likelihood of being overweight, and a higher likelihood of being underweight. Moreover, daily snus use was associated with a higher likelihood of worse general health. Former and occasional female snus use was not associated with BMI or general health.


Author(s):  
João M. Pedro ◽  
Miguel Brito ◽  
Henrique Barros

This cross-sectional survey with 2357 subjects aged 15 to 64 years from a ruralurban community in Bengo Province, Angola, aimed to evaluate the gender differences in the prevalence of body mass index categories and how socio-demographic characteristics influence it. Women presented a significantly higher prevalence of obesity (10.5% versus 2.8%) but the underweight frequency was similar to men (10.2% versus 12.4%). Overweight and obesity increased with age, with underweight being more prevalent in the age group 15 to 24 years. Obesity was more prevalent among individuals living with a companion (in a marital relation), decreased with education (in women), but was higher in rural areas, and for those with a higher family monthly income, in both genders. The prevalence of obesity and underweight were similar in women, reflecting a nutrition transition state. Like in other African communities, women present a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity them men, but the values of underweight are similar between genders. This stresses the need of designed health interventions for women, to face the double burden and accumulation of risk factors in women.


2019 ◽  
pp. 127-136
Author(s):  
Venti Agustina

Hipertensiadalah penyebab kematian utama di Indonesia. Kematian akibat hipertensi lebih banyak terjadi di perkotaan dibandingkan di desa. Tingginya kejadian hipertensi dipengaruhi oleh faktor yang dapat dikontrol (obesitas,berat badan lebih, konsumsi garam berlebih,aktivitas fisik rendah, perokok, dan konsumsi alkohol) dan faktor yang tidak dapat dikontrol (genetik, usia, dan jenis kelamin). Penelitian bertujuan memberikan gambarandistribusi tekanan darah dan indeks massa tubuh (IMT) pendudukperempuan di kota maupun di desa.Desain penelitian adalah deskriptif kuatitatif dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Data primer didapatkan melalui pengukuran tekanan darah, tinggi badan dan berat badan. Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Kutowinangun Kidul, Kecamatan Tingkir,Salatiga yang mewakili penduduk perempuan di perkotaan dan Desa Batur, Kecamatan Getasan, Kabupaten Semarangyang mewakili penduduk perempuan pedesaan. Adapun jumlah sampel masing-masing 66 respondendan 72responden. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kejadian penyakit hipertensi, resiko obese dan obese lebih didominasi oleh respondendi perkotaan dibandingkan di pedesaan dengan rentang usia di atas 46 tahun. Respondendi desa dengan indeks massa tubuh normal cenderung mengalami pre-hipertensi (8,3%) dan hipertensi stadium I (6,9%) sementararesponden dengan resiko obese dan obese cenderung mengalami hipertensi stadium I (1,4%).Respondendi kota dengan indeks massa tubuh normal cenderung mengalami pre hipertensi (6,06%), hipertensi stadium I (4,5%) dan II (7,5%). Responden dengan resiko obese cenderung mengalami hipertensi stadium I (4,5%), dan responden dengan obese I dan II cenderung mengalami pre-hipertensi (4,5%).   Hypertension is the leading cause of death in Indonesia. Deaths due to hypertension are more common in urban areas than in villages. The high incidence of hypertension is influenced by factors that can be controlled (obesity, overweight, excessive salt consumption, low physical activity, smokers, and alcohol consumption) and factors that cannot be controlled (genetic, age, and sex). The study aimed to provide an overview of blood pressure distribution and body mass index (BMI) of female residents in cities and villages. The study design was descriptive quantitative with a cross sectional approach. Primary data was obtained through measurements of blood pressure, height and weight. The study was conducted in Kutowinangun Kidul Village, Tingkir Subdistrict, Salatiga representing women in urban areas and Batur Village, Getasan Subdistrict, Semarang Regency, representing rural women. The number of samples was 66 respondents and 72 respondents respectively. The results showed that the incidence of hypertension, the risk of obese and obese was more dominated by respondents in urban areas than in rural areas with ages above 46 years. Respondents in villages with normal body mass index tended to experience pre-hypertension (8.3%) and stage I hypertension (6.9%) while respondents with obese and obese risk tended to experience stage I hypertension (1.4%). Respondents in cities with normal body mass index tended to experience pre-hypertension (6.06%), stage I hypertension (4.5%) and II (7.5%). Respondents with obese risk tended to experience stage I hypertension (4.5%), and respondents with obese I and II tended to experience pre-hypertension (4.5%).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara F. Thumann ◽  
Christoph Buck ◽  
Stefaan De Henauw ◽  
Charalambos Hadjigeorgiou ◽  
Antje Hebestreit ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e043365
Author(s):  
Subhasish Das ◽  
Md. Golam Rasul ◽  
Md Shabab Hossain ◽  
Ar-Rafi Khan ◽  
Md Ashraful Alam ◽  
...  

IntroductionWe conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the extent and to identify the determinants of food insecurity and coping strategies in urban and rural households of Bangladesh during the month-long, COVID-19 lockdown period.SettingSelected urban and rural areas of Bangladesh.Participants106 urban and 106 rural households.Outcome variables and methodHousehold food insecurity status and the types of coping strategies were the outcome variables for the analyses. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were done to identify the determinants.ResultsWe found that around 90% of the households were suffering from different grades of food insecurity. Severe food insecurity was higher in urban (42%) than rural (15%) households. The rural households with mild/moderate food insecurity adopted either financial (27%) or both financial and food compromised (32%) coping strategies, but 61% of urban mild/moderate food insecure households applied both forms of coping strategies. Similarly, nearly 90% of severely food insecure households implemented both types of coping strategies. Living in poorest households was significantly associated (p value <0.05) with mild/moderate (regression coefficient, β: 15.13, 95% CI 14.43 to 15.82), and severe food insecurity (β: 16.28, 95% CI 15.58 to 16.97). The statistically significant (p <0.05) determinants of both food compromised and financial coping strategies were living in urban areas (β: 1.8, 95% CI 0.44 to 3.09), living in poorest (β: 2.7, 95% CI 1 to 4.45), poorer (β: 2.6, 95% CI 0.75 to 4.4) and even in the richer (β: 1.6, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.9) households and age of the respondent (β: 0.1, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.21).ConclusionBoth urban and rural households suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity during the month-long lockdown period in Bangladesh. But, poorest, poorer and even the richer households adopted different coping strategies that might result in long-term economic and nutritional consequences.


Medicina ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Kamila Faizullina ◽  
Galina Kausova ◽  
Zhanna Kalmataeva ◽  
Ardak Nurbakyt ◽  
Saule Buzdaeva

Background and Objective. The number of new entrants to higher medical schools of Kazakhstan increased by 1.6 times from 2007 to 2012. However, it is not known how it will affect the shortage of human resources for health. Additionally, human resources for health in rural areas of Kazakhstan are 4 times scarcer than in urban areas. The aim of the present study was to investigate the intentions of students toward their professional future and readiness to work in rural areas, as well as to determine the causes for dropping out from medical schools. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2 medical universities in Almaty during the academic year 2011–2012. The study sample included medical students and interns. In total, 2388 students participated in the survey. The survey tool was an anonymous questionnaire. Results. The students of the first years of studies compared with those of later years of studies were more optimistic about the profession and had more intentions to work in the medical field. Only 8% of the students reported a wish to work in rural localities. On the other hand, 4% of the students did not plan to pursue the profession. On the average, every third medical student dropped out on his/her own request. Conclusions. Associations between intentions to work according to the profession and the year of studies, faculty, and residence area before enrolling in a medical school were documented. The majority of the students who came from rural areas preferred to stay and look for work in a city, which might contribute to an unequal distribution of physicians across the country.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-125
Author(s):  
KR Thapa ◽  
BK Shrestha ◽  
MD Bhattarai

Background Posting of doctors in remote rural areas has always been a priority for Government; however data are scarce in the country about experience of doctors of working in remote areas after medical graduation.Objective A questionnaire survey of doctors was planned to analyze their experience of working after graduation in remote rural areas in various parts of the country.Method The cross-sectional survey was done by convenience sampling method. A one-page questionnaire with one partially closed-end and five open-end type questions was distributed to the doctors who had worked in remote rural areas after graduation under various governments’ postings.Result Two-third of participants had their home in urban areas and 89.8% had stayed for 1 to 5 years. About half of the participants had difficulty in getting the posting in the remote areas of their choice. Most participants indicated provision of opportunities for Residential (postgraduate) Training as their reasons of going to remote areas as well as their suggestions to encourage young graduates to go there. Similarly most also suggested appropriate career, salary and incentives to encourage doctors to go to work in remote areas. About 85% of participants pointed out the major problem faced while posted in remote areas as difficulty in handling varied situations with no guidance or seniors available around.Conclusion The notable points indicated by the participants are centered on the opportunity for Residential Training and difficulties faced without such training. Residential Training is a priority to be considered while planning the health policy for optimum health care of people.Kathmandu University Medical Journal Vol.12(2) 2014: 121-125


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2961
Author(s):  
Nafissatou Cisse Egbuonye ◽  
Ariun Ishdorj ◽  
E.L.J. McKyer ◽  
Rahma Mkuu

Malnutrition is a major public health concern in Niger. The stunting rate in children in Niger is over 50%, one of the highest in the world. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine children’s dietary diversity (CDD) and the maternal factors that impact CDD. A total of 1265 mother–child pairs were analyzed. Descriptive analysis was conducted to present maternal and child characteristics. To compare the mean scores of CDD in relation to the region, an independent sample t-test was conducted. A one-way ANOVA test was conducted to evaluate the CDD score by different age groups. A linear regression model was estimated to identify household, maternal and child factors that affect the CDD score. Our results indicate that most of the participants of our survey resided in rural areas and the majority (80.7%) of the mothers had no education. Factors such as region, children’s age, woman’s empowerment, vitamin A intake and wealth index were significant predictors of CDD (p < 0.05). The children residing in rural areas were more likely to have lower CDD scores (p < 0.05) than the children in urban areas, therefore becoming more susceptible to malnutrition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (05) ◽  
pp. 373-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Jupsa-Mbiandou ◽  
Samuel Fosso ◽  
Edimo Billé ◽  
Tito T Mélachio-Tanekou ◽  
Gideon Ajeagah-Aghaindum ◽  
...  

Introduction: Blastocystis spp. is a protist found in humans. Although usually the most frequent protozoa found in stool samples of both symptomatic and healthy subjects, its pathogenic or rather opportunistic role is yet to be clearly elucidated. To attempt to fill this gap, a cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the frequency of Blastocystis spp. in HIV positive (HIV+) versus HIV negative (HIV-) individuals in four health facilities of the Center Region of Cameroon. Methodology: Stool samples were collected from 283 HIV positive and 245 HIV negative subjects and analyzed using direct diagnostic tests. Results: A total of 46 (8.7%) individuals were found infected with Blastocystis spp., including 6.7% HIV positive and 11.0% HIV negative. This species was more frequent in urban and semi-urban areas than in rural areas, but evenly distributed among genders and age groups as well as among all sectors of activity. The prevalence of Blastocystis spp. (11.3%) was higher in HIV+ patients with a CD4 count ≥ 500 cells / mm3, but no significant difference was found among HIV clinical stages. Likewise prevalence, the mean number of cysts per gram of stool was similar between HIV positive and HIV negative individuals. People infected with Blastocystis spp. showed diverse clinical signs, but only flatulence was significantly more prevalent. The frequencies of these clinical signs were not related to HIV status. Conclusion: No clear relationship links the infection with Blastocystis spp. to HIV, although its presence was associated with digestive disorder, suggesting that this parasite might not be opportunist.


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