The feasibility of cycling as a form of active commuting among children from a parental perspective: a qualitative study

The way children commute to and from school has been described in the literature as passive or active commuting. Active commuting among children in England is low, with the most recent evidence available indicating that between 2% and 8% of children cycle to school. Encouraging active commuting by bicycle among children may be a particular way to increase participation in cycling. Evidence reports that parents influence their children’s attitudes and interests both directly and indirectly; levels of physical activity of a child, for instance, can be shaped via socialisation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the barriers to children cycling as a means of active commuting. The study used qualitative methods for collecting and analysing data with a diagnostic perspective. A total of eighteen parents, ten mothers and eight fathers, participated in the interviews. Children, eleven girls and seven boys, were aged eight to twelve years. Children’s mean age was 10.2 ± 1.6 years. Children’s primary modes of transport to school were by car (55.6%), walking (33.3%) and by bus (5.6%). Overall, a series of factors seem to prevent parents from supporting their children to actively commute to school. Parents fear their children being exposed to crime and bad weather conditions while actively commuting to school. The absence of cycling lanes and long or short distances from school are further issues preventing parents from supporting their children to cycle to school. </p

PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN BRAZILIAN STUDENTS

<p></p><p>ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between participation and physical activity during Physical Education classes with health outcomes in Brazilian students. Methods: 681 Brazilian students (50.5% female) aged 10 to 17 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Independent variables analyzed were participation and physical activity during Physical Education classes, both assessed using a self-report questionnaire. The outcomes were: cardiorespiratory fitness (20-meter Shuttle Run test), muscle strength (Push-up test), overweight and obesity (body mass index) and high blood pressure. Statistical analysis was conducted by Poisson regression to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) adjusted for confounding variables (age, sex, parental education, physical activity and sedentary behavior), considering the complex sample design. Results: Participation in Physical Education classes was not associated with any of the studied variables. Being active during Physical Education classes was associated with achieving health related criteria for cardiorespiratory fitness (PR=1.34, 95%CI 1.16-1.55) and muscle strength (PR=1.36, 95%CI 1.09-1.71). The same did not occur for overweight (PR=1.04, 95%CI 0.95-1.14), obesity (PR=1.02, 95%CI 0.91-1.05), or high blood pressure (PR=0.98, 95%CI 0.90-1.06). Conclusions: Students who reported being active during classes presented a higher likelihood to achieve the health criteria for cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. However, classes traditionally offered in Brazil do not protect students from overweight, obesity, or high blood pressure.</p><p></p

PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN BRAZILIAN STUDENTS

<p></p><p>ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between participation and physical activity during Physical Education classes with health outcomes in Brazilian students. Methods: 681 Brazilian students (50.5% female) aged 10 to 17 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Independent variables analyzed were participation and physical activity during Physical Education classes, both assessed using a self-report questionnaire. The outcomes were: cardiorespiratory fitness (20-meter Shuttle Run test), muscle strength (Push-up test), overweight and obesity (body mass index) and high blood pressure. Statistical analysis was conducted by Poisson regression to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) adjusted for confounding variables (age, sex, parental education, physical activity and sedentary behavior), considering the complex sample design. Results: Participation in Physical Education classes was not associated with any of the studied variables. Being active during Physical Education classes was associated with achieving health related criteria for cardiorespiratory fitness (PR=1.34, 95%CI 1.16-1.55) and muscle strength (PR=1.36, 95%CI 1.09-1.71). The same did not occur for overweight (PR=1.04, 95%CI 0.95-1.14), obesity (PR=1.02, 95%CI 0.91-1.05), or high blood pressure (PR=0.98, 95%CI 0.90-1.06). Conclusions: Students who reported being active during classes presented a higher likelihood to achieve the health criteria for cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. However, classes traditionally offered in Brazil do not protect students from overweight, obesity, or high blood pressure.</p><p></p

Overweight and obesity are not associated to high blood pressure in young people sport practitioners

<p></p><p>Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the association between overweight and obesity with high blood pressure (HBP) according to sports practice in young people. Took part in this study 636 young people aged 10 to 17 years of Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. Sex, age, parental education, sedentary behavior, sports practice, nutritional status and blood pressure were analysed. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals. Overweight and obesity young people showed higher prevalence of HBP compared to eutrophics when analysed the total sample (25,7 e 29,5 vs 15,2%) and non sport practitioners (29,7 e 33,3 vs 15,1%), which did not occur with sports practitioners (17,1 e 18,2 vs 15,5%). Positive associations were found between overweight and obesity with HBP in total sample (PR = 1,60, 1,02-2,52 and 1,93, 1,15-3,25) and on non sport practitioners (RP = 1,80, 1,05-3,14 and 2,15, 1,10-4,16). For young people sports practitioners were not found associations between overweight and obesity with HBP (PR = 1,01, 0,36-2,82 and 1,09, 0,48-2,48). Weight excess was not associated with HBP in young people sports practitioners, suggesting cardiovascular protection in young people with overweight and obesity.</p><p></p