Associations Between School Transport And Obesity By Gender, Grade, Physical Activity, Ethnicity, And Economic Disadvantage

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the prevalence of school transport modes and obesity by gender, grade, physical activity, race/ethnicity, and economic disadvantage in a representative sample of Texas school children. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on reported sociodemographic characteristics, school transport mode, and physical activity behavior were collected from the Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Survey, 2015-2016. Measured height and weight were used to calculate BMI and classify 4th, 8th, and 11th grade students by obesity status. The sampling frame had 14,976 students from 452 schools to provide weighted state-level estimates by grade. Descriptive statistics and associations were conducted between school transport modes and obesity. Interaction terms were included to test if school transport mode-obesity associations differed by gender, grade, physical activity, race/ethnicity, or economic disadvantage. RESULTS: Participants were predominately Hispanic (69.8%), normal weight (55.8%), used passive school transport modes (90.9%), and did not meet physical activity guidelines (82.4%). Active and passive school transport modes were not significantly associated with obesity (all ps>0.05). Gender, race/ethnicity, physical activity, and economic disadvantage were significantly associated with obesity (all ps<0.05). Bike to school by race/ethnicity and walk to school by grade were significantly associated with obesity (all ps<0.05). Hispanic/AA students who biked to school were significantly more likely to have obesity compared to White/Other students who did not bike to school (OR=5.48, p<0.05, 95% CI: 1.25, 24.00). Students in 8th grade who walked to school were significantly less likely to have obesity than 4th/11th grade students who did not walk to school (OR=0.42, p<0.05, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that associations between active school transport modes and obesity differ by sociodemographic characteristics, including race/ ethnicity and grade. Population-based approaches to childhood obesity prevention may benefit from understanding disparities in opportunities for school transport modes. Supported by the Texas DSHS with funds from the Title V MCH Block Grant to Texas, the CDC HHS Block Grant, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.