Body mass index and association with use of and distance from places for physical activity and active leisure among schoolchildren in Brazil. Cross-sectional study.

Camila Elizandra Rossi,Francisco De Assis Guedes De Vasconcelos,Janaina Das Neves,Elizabeth Nappi Correa,Cristine Garcia Gabriel,Cassiano Ricardo Rech,Jucemar Benedet

doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2017.0347020118

Camila Elizandra Rossi, Francisco De Assis Guedes De Vasconcelos + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-3180.2017.0347020118

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Abstract

We evaluated associations between use of public places for physical activity and active leisure (PAAL) and their distances from subjects' homes and indicators of overweight and obesity, among schoolchildren from different socioeconomic levels, in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. Cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 2,152 schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years, enrolled at 30 public and private schools. The exposure variables were the use of public places for PAAL in the neighborhood and their distance from schoolchildren's homes. The outcomes were body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted according to income strata. Among the schoolchildren from low-income families, living closer to parks/playgrounds was associated with lower BMI (β = -2.15; 95% confidence interval, CI = -2.53; -1.77) and lower WC (β = -0.11 95% CI = -0.17; -0.05), while living at these distances from football pitches was associated with higher BMI (β = 1.73; 95% CI = 0.31; 3.15) and larger WC measurements (β = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.005; 0.14). Among the schoolchildren in low-income groups, living at an intermediate distance from beaches was associated with lower BMI (β = -1.10; 95% CI = -1.61; -0.59). Living closer to parks/playgrounds was associated with lower BMI and WC among schoolchildren from low-income families. Living closer to football pitches was associated with higher BMI and WC among these schoolchildren. Living at intermediate distances from beaches was associated with lower BMI among these schoolchildren.

Highlights

There is evidence showing increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in high, medium and low-income countries.[1]
There were no significant differences in the mean body mass index or mean waist circumference between the income strata
Schoolchildren from the low-income stratum who lived at an intermediate distance from beaches presented lower values of body mass index (BMI) (β = -1.10; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) = -1.61; -0.59)

Summary

Introduction

There is evidence showing increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in high, medium and low-income countries.[1]. Studies have shown that the availability of places for physical activity and active leisure (PAAL) close to home makes it more likely that these facilities will be used more often, because of ease of access.[5] Children and adolescents who report living close to such places tend to have lower body mass index (BMI) and lower values for other measurements of obesity.[6,7] It has been indicated in the literature that there are differences in the patterns of usage of neighborhood facilities when different socioeconomic strata are investigated, whether assessed at the family[8] or area level (the latter based on area of residence).[9]. We evaluated associations between use of public places for physical activity and active leisure (PAAL) and their distances from subjects’ homes and indicators of overweight and obesity, among schoolchildren from different socioeconomic levels, in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. Living at intermediate distances from beaches was associated with lower BMI among these schoolchildren

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