Regional differences of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Swiss children are not explained by socio-demographics or the built environment.

Bettina Bringolf-Isler,Susi Kriemler,Jardena J Puder,Heidi Hofmann,Urs Mäder,Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer,Alain Dössegger

doi:10.1007/s00038-014-0645-8

Abstract

ObjectiveWe evaluated whether regional differences in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) existed along language boundaries within Switzerland and whether potential differences would be explained by socio-demographics or environmental characteristics.MethodsWe combined data of 611 children aged 4 to 7 years from four regional studies. PA and SB were assessed by accelerometers. Information about the socio-demographic background was obtained by questionnaires. Objective neighbourhood attributes could be linked to home addresses. Multivariate regression models were used to test associations between PA and SB and socio-demographic characteristics and neighbourhood attributes.ResultsChildren from the German compared to the French-speaking region were more physically active and less sedentary (by 10–15 %, p < 0.01). Although German-speaking children lived in a more favourable environment and a higher socioeconomic neighbourhood (differences p < 0.001), these characteristics did not explain the differences in PA behaviour between French and German speaking.ConclusionsFactors related to the language region, which might be culturally rooted were among the strongest correlates of PA and SB among Swiss children, independent of individual, social and environmental factors.

Highlights

Objective We evaluated whether regional differences in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) existed along language boundaries within Switzerland and whether potential differences would be explained by sociodemographics or environmental characteristics
Children from the German compared to the French-speaking region were more physically active and less sedentary
Germanspeaking children lived in a more favourable environment and a higher socioeconomic neighbourhood, these characteristics did not explain the differences in PA behaviour between French and German speaking

Summary

Methods

Four regional studies (Bringolf-Isler et al 2009; Gehring et al 2008; Niederer et al 2009; Zahner et al 2006) conducted between 2005 and 2009 among 4- to 7-year-old Swiss children using Actigraph accelerometers to assess PA have been combined into a single database. Information about population density, building density, mixed land use and the number of schoolchildren living within the neighbourhood was based on census data. These data were available per hectare (ha) and were summed up to 3 9 3 ha around the place of residence to correspond to a maximum buffer of 200 m. A basic regression model (model 1) adjusted for sex, age, accelerometer type, season and study cluster (individual study included in the data pool) was used to test the respective associations between total PA (in cpm), %-MVPA and %-SB (defined as MVPA and sedentary behaviour per measuring time), and individual sociodemographic characteristics and neighbourhood attributes.

Results

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Discussion

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