Active Commuting, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors in Children and Adolescents from Spain: Findings from the ANIBES Study

Raquel Aparicio-Ugarriza,Javier Aranceta-Bartrina,Gregorio Varela-Moreiras,José Manuel Ávila,Rosa M Ortega,Lluis Serra-Majem,Juan Mielgo-Ayuso,Ángel Gil,Emma Ruiz,Marcela González-Gross

doi:10.3390/ijerph17020668

Abstract

Active commuting (AC) has been proposed as a great opportunity to increase physical activity level (PA) in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study is to determine the associations between AC (walk and cycle commuting) and non-AC (motor vehicle commuting) with PA levels, and with AC and sedentarism in Spanish children and adolescents. A representative Spanish sample of 424 children and adolescents (38% females) was involved in the ANIBES (Anthropometry, Dietary Intake and Lifestyle in Spain) Study in 2013. Data on the levels of AC, non-AC, PA, and sedentarism were obtained using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for adolescents. Stepwise backward univariate generalized linear and linear regression models were performed. In girls, walking was associated with playground PA, moderate PA, and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (β = 0.007, p < 0.05; both β = 0.007, p < 0.01), respectively. In boys, walking was associated with all PA levels (p < 0.05); while cycling was related to moderate PA and MVPA (both β = 0.007, p < 0.05). A negative significant association was observed between AC and time spent studying without Internet use in boys (β = −0.184, p < 0.05). Commuting by walking contributes to increased daily PA in both sexes, whereas cycling was only related to moderate PA and MVPA in boys. Sedentary behaviors are not related to AC, but studying without Internet use was negatively associated with AC in boys.

Highlights

There is growing evidence that lack of physical activity (PA) and sedentarism during childhood predispose children to the development of obesity and chronic health conditions later in life [1,2].Despite all the well-established health benefits associated with regular physical activity level (PA) [3,4], 55.4% of Spanish children and adolescents do not meet the international recommendations for PA introduced by theWorld Health Organization [5] for these age groups (420 min/week of moderate and vigorous intensityPA, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA)): these included 73.3% females and 44.5% males [6]
Our study aims to (1) describe the characteristics between PA levels split by sex, age groups, and commuting to/from school; (2) examine the associations between the time spent in Active commuting (AC) and PA levels evaluated by the International Physical
These findings suggest that there are significant associations between commuting by walking and different levels of PA in both sexes, whereas cycling has a relationship with moderate PA and MVPA

Summary

Introduction

There is growing evidence that lack of physical activity (PA) and sedentarism during childhood predispose children to the development of obesity and chronic health conditions later in life [1,2].Despite all the well-established health benefits associated with regular PA [3,4], 55.4% of Spanish children and adolescents do not meet the international recommendations for PA introduced by theWorld Health Organization [5] for these age groups (420 min/week of moderate and vigorous intensityPA, MVPA): these included 73.3% females and 44.5% males [6]. There is growing evidence that lack of physical activity (PA) and sedentarism during childhood predispose children to the development of obesity and chronic health conditions later in life [1,2]. Despite all the well-established health benefits associated with regular PA [3,4], 55.4% of Spanish children and adolescents do not meet the international recommendations for PA introduced by the. Active commuting (AC) to/from school provides a great opportunity to incorporate PA into the daily routine of this population [10]. Active transport to/from school, such as walking or cycling, increases PA levels [11], improves cardiovascular health, presents healthier body composition [12], reduces stress, and increases academic benefits [13]. Cycling as active transportation to/from school is positively related to weight status [14], muscular fitness [15], and cardiorespiratory fitness [16]

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