Abstract
The prevalence of obesity has become a primary risk factor for adolescents’ health, which is an essential factor in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Physical activity can help adolescents reduce obesity risk and keep a healthy body mass index (BMI). We analyze the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (NYPANS) for U.S. school students from 9th to 12th grades (aging from 12 to 18). A latent variable analysis explored the relationship between adolescents’ BMI, physical activity, and physical and social environment. We found that Hispanic adolescents have higher BMI because they participate in fewer physical activities. We found that active commuting to school does not provide sufficient physical activity to keep a healthy BMI. The neighborhood environment for physical activity, such as public exercise and recreational center facilities, can reduce BMI but cannot help underweight adolescents increase BMI. Finally, spending too much leisure time on electronic entertainment, such as video games, is a dominating contributor to unhealthy BMI. These research outcomes suggest that providing a physical activity-friendly environment for adolescents, such as the facilities for physical activity in the neighborhood, is critical to a healthy BMI. Interventions that encourage physical activity and reduce leisure time on electronic entertainment to meet physical activity guidelines are also necessary.
Highlights
The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased markedly in the last three decades [1,2]and has become a severe public health issue in the United States [3,4]
There is no significant gap in healthy body mass index (BMI) between Hispanic and non-Hispanic adolescents
The results suggest that physical activity facilities may be directly associated with a healthier BMI by promoting adolescents’ physical activity
Summary
The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased markedly in the last three decades [1,2]and has become a severe public health issue in the United States [3,4]. Participating in moderate-vigorous physical activity is a widely recognized sustainable way to make people physically active and has tremendous health benefits [5,6,7]. Adolescents’ physical activity usually includes active commuting (e.g., walking and biking) and daily exercises, which have drawn increasing attention in the existing literature on adolescents’ health. Adolescents’ active commuting to school helps adolescents accumulate daily physical activity and boost their overall physical activity levels [9]. Banerjee et al observed the associated benefits of walking to school [11]. Their studies have demonstrated that walking provides the children with a regular dose of physical activity and instills lifelong healthy behaviors.
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