Abstract
Mexico shows a high prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents. Geographical location and cultural environment could play a role in the promotion of healthy lifestyles in terms of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess rural and urban differences in body composition (BC), physical fitness (PF), PA and nutritional status of adolescents from the state of Jalisco (Mexico). The study involved 469 students aged 13–17 years (55.0% girls) from eight high schools. BC was analyzed by bioimpedance and PF by standardized field tests. Objective measurements of PA and SB were taken in a subsample (n = 240). Energy intake (EI) was calculated from two 24h recalls. Rural residents presented a higher prevalence of overweight, waist circumference, trunk fat mass, regional fat free mass and muscle handgrip strength (all p < 0.05, η2p < 0.06). Cardiorespiratory fitness was similar among participants, whereas urban adolescents showed higher muscle power, speed-agility and flexibility scores (all p < 0.05, η2p < 0.07). Overall lifestyle behavior in urban adolescents was more sedentary (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.11). EI was similar in both locations. In conclusion, rural Mexican adolescents presented a generally lower sedentary behavior and a lower fitness and fatness profile than their urban peers.
Highlights
Excess body fat is increasing at alarming rates across the globe [1]
Taking into consideration the present knowledge gaps related to a healthy lifestyle in Mexican youth and the importance of the place of residence as an environmental factor, the aim of this study is to report information about health related-factors such as body composition (BC), physical fitness (PF), physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST) and dietary intake (DI) of adolescents from the state of Jalisco (Mexico) comparing rural and urban participants
Our results suggest that rural Mexican adolescents are less sedentary than their urban peers, they present a generally higher fatness profile (i.e Fat mass (FM) in trunk, Body mass index (BMI) and Waist-hip ratio (WHR), small effect size); and a lower fitness profile in terms of muscle power, agility-coordination and flexibility
Summary
Excess body fat is increasing at alarming rates across the globe [1]. According to World HealthOrganization (WHO) data, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Mexico is 34.4% and 13.5%, respectively [2]. Excess body fat is increasing at alarming rates across the globe [1]. Organization (WHO) data, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Mexico is 34.4% and 13.5%, respectively [2]. The National Survey of Health and Nutrition (Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutricion in Spanish—ENSANUT) 2016 results have shown that those rates increase especially in Mexican adolescents living in rural depressed and low economical resources areas [3]. It seems that geographical context needs to be taken into consideration when trying. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8959; doi:10.3390/ijerph17238959 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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