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Fitness, Fatness and Active School Commuting among Liverpool Schoolchildren

Author

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  • Robert J. Noonan

    (Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK
    Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2AB, UK)

  • Lynne M. Boddy

    (Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2AB, UK)

  • Zoe R. Knowles

    (Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2AB, UK)

  • Stuart J. Fairclough

    (Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK
    Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland)

Abstract

This study investigated differences in health outcomes between active and passive school commuters, and examined associations between parent perceptions of the neighborhood environment and active school commuting (ASC). One hundred-ninety-four children (107 girls), aged 9–10 years from ten primary schools in Liverpool, England, participated in this cross-sectional study. Measures of stature, body mass, waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were taken. School commute mode (active/passive) was self-reported and parents completed the neighborhood environment walkability scale for youth. Fifty-three percent of children commuted to school actively. Schoolchildren who lived in more deprived neighborhoods perceived by parents as being highly connected, unaesthetic and having mixed land-use were more likely to commute to school actively ( p < 0.05). These children were at greatest risk of being obese and aerobically unfit( p < 0.01). Our results suggest that deprivation may explain the counterintuitive relationship between obesity, CRF and ASC in Liverpool schoolchildren. These findings encourage researchers and policy makers to be equally mindful of the social determinants of health when advocating behavioral and environmental health interventions. Further research exploring contextual factors to ASC, and examining the concurrent effect of ASC and diet on weight status by deprivation is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert J. Noonan & Lynne M. Boddy & Zoe R. Knowles & Stuart J. Fairclough, 2017. "Fitness, Fatness and Active School Commuting among Liverpool Schoolchildren," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:9:p:995-:d:110485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emilio Villa-González & Jonatan R. Ruiz & Palma Chillón, 2015. "Associations between Active Commuting to School and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Spanish School-Aged Children: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Noreen McDonald, 2008. "Children’s mode choice for the school trip: the role of distance and school location in walking to school," Transportation, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 23-35, January.
    3. Larsen, K. & Gilliland, J. & Hess, P. & Tucker, P. & Irwin, J. & He, M., 2009. "The influence of the physical environment and sociodemographic characteristics on children's mode of travel to and from school," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(3), pages 520-526.
    4. Mitra, Raktim & Buliung, Ron N., 2012. "Built environment correlates of active school transportation: neighborhood and the modifiable areal unit problem," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 51-61.
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    Cited by:

    1. José Manuel Segura-Díaz & Álvaro Rojas-Jiménez & Yaira Barranco-Ruiz & Berta Murillo-Pardo & Romina Gisele Saucedo-Araujo & María Jesús Aranda-Balboa & Manuel Herrador-Colmenero & Emilio Villa-Gonzále, 2020. "Feasibility and Reliability of a Questionnaire to Assess the Mode, Frequency, Distance and Time of Commuting to and from School: The PACO Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Duarte Henriques-Neto & Miguel Peralta & Susana Garradas & Andreia Pelegrini & André Araújo Pinto & Pedro António Sánchez-Miguel & Adilson Marques, 2020. "Active Commuting and Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Ho Yeung Lam & Sisitha Jayasinghe & Kiran D. K. Ahuja & Andrew P. Hills, 2023. "Active School Commuting in School Children: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Research Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-20, October.

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