Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity And Proximity To Commercial Physical Facilities Among 12th Grade Girls

Abstract

Proximity to neighborhood physical activity resources is associated with physical activity in both youth and adults. But little is known about proximity to such resources and other health-related outcomes. PURPOSE: To determine if there is a relationship between proximity to commercial physical activity facilities (CFAC) and cardiorespiratory fitness, after adjustment for demographic variables, vigorous physical activity (VPA), sports participation and sedentary pursuits in 12th grade girls. METHODS: Adolescent girls (N = 786, 60% African American, mean age = 17.6 ± 0.6 years, mean BMI = 25.0 ± 6.5) performed a submaximal fitness test (PWC170). Height, weight, sports participation, physical activity, and sedentary pursuits were assessed. VPA was determined by the average number of blocks reported per day on the 3-day Physical Activity Recall (3DPAR) that were estimated at 6 METs or higher. Sedentary activity was the sum of average number of reported blocks of television/movie viewing, computer/video game playing, surfing the net and telephone use (3DPAR). CFAC were mapped and counted within a 0.75 street network buffer around girls' homes using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Proc Mixed ANOVA models were calculated using school as a random variable. RESULTS: More of the girls with 1 + CFAC (n = 186) within 0.75 miles of home, reported 1 + 30-minute blocks of VPA and they had higher absolute PWC170 scores than girls without a CFAC (n = 600) near their homes. Models with only demographic variables explained 46.9% of the variance in weight-relative fitness. After the addition of VPA, sport participation and blocks of sedentary activity (p's <0.01), 53.5% of the variance in fitness was explained. Addition of CFAC (P = 0.001) added little explained variance, resulting in an R2 of.544 for weight-relative fitness. CONCLUSIONS: Having one or more commercial PA facilities within 0.75 mile radius of their homes was related to cardiovascular fitness of 12th grade girls, after adjusting for demographic, sport participation, VPA and sedentary pursuits. Girls who had lower BMI, more VPA, were sports participants during the past year, reported lower sedentary behaviors and had a commercial PA facility within 0.75 mile radius of their homes were fitter.