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Active Commuting to School and Physical Activity Levels among 11 to 16 Year-Old Adolescents from 63 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel Peralta

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Lisboa; Portugal
    ISAMB, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Duarte Henriques-Neto

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Lisboa; Portugal)

  • Joana Bordado

    (Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Lisboa; Portugal)

  • Nuno Loureiro

    (ISAMB, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico de Beja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal)

  • Susana Diz

    (Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Lisboa; Portugal)

  • Adilson Marques

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Lisboa; Portugal
    ISAMB, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

Background: Global physical activity levels are low. Active commuting to school is a low-cost and sustainable behaviour that promotes adolescents’ physical activity levels. Despite its importance, data on low- and middle-income countries is scarce. This study aimed to assess the relationship between active commuting to school and physical activity (PA) levels among 11–16 years-old adolescents from 63 low- and middle-income countries and six world regions. Methods: Data were from the GSHS database. Participants were 187,934 adolescents (89,550 boys), aged 11–16 years-old, from 63 low- and middle-income countries. Active commuting to school and PA were self-reported as the number of days adolescents walked or cycled to school and engaged in physical activity for at least 60 min in the past 7 days. Results: Boys and girls who actively commuted to school presented higher prevalence of attaining the PA recommendations, but only for the 13–14 (boys: 16.6% versus 22.0%; girls: 9.8% versus 14.6%) and 15–16 (boys: 16.3% versus 21.6%; girls: 8.0% versus 14.0%) year-old age groups. Only for Oceania, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African girls and Sub-Saharan African boys no difference was found in the prevalence of attaining the PA recommendations between those who actively commuted to school and those who did not. Boys who actively commuted to school were 42% (95% CI: 1.37, 1.46) more likely to achieve the PA recommendations, while girls were 66% (95% CI: 1.59, 1.73) more likely to achieve the PA recommendations. Conclusions: Active commuting to school is associated with the adolescents’ physical activity levels. However, it may have a lesser influence in helping younger adolescents attaining physical activity recommendations. Public health authorities should promote active commuting to school among adolescents in order to improve the PA levels and promote health.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Peralta & Duarte Henriques-Neto & Joana Bordado & Nuno Loureiro & Susana Diz & Adilson Marques, 2020. "Active Commuting to School and Physical Activity Levels among 11 to 16 Year-Old Adolescents from 63 Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-8, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1276-:d:321522
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fernanda Karina Dos Santos & José A. R. Maia & Thayse Natacha Q. F. Gomes & Timóteo Daca & Aspacia Madeira & Albertino Damasceno & Peter T. Katzmarzyk & António Prista, 2014. "Secular Trends in Habitual Physical Activities of Mozambican Children and Adolescents from Maputo City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-11, October.
    2. Javier Zaragoza & Ana Corral & Sergio Estrada & Ángel Abós & Alberto Aibar, 2019. "Active or Passive Commuter? Discrepancies in Cut-off Criteria among Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-12, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nuno Loureiro & Adilson Marques & Vânia Loureiro & Margarida Gaspar de Matos, 2021. "Active Transportation to School. Utopia or a Strategy for a Healthy Life in Adolescence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Saeed Esmaeli & Kayvan Aghabayk & Nirajan Shiwakoti, 2024. "Measuring the Effect of Built Environment on Students’ School Trip Method Using Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Silvia A. González & Salomé Aubert & Joel D. Barnes & Richard Larouche & Mark S. Tremblay, 2020. "Profiles of Active Transportation among Children and Adolescents in the Global Matrix 3.0 Initiative: A 49-Country Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-29, August.
    4. Nuno Loureiro & Vânia Loureiro & Alberto Grao-Cruces & João Martins & Margarida Gaspar de Matos, 2022. "Correlates of Active Commuting to School among Portuguese Adolescents: An Ecological Model Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, February.
    5. Adilson Marques & Thiago Santos & Élvio R. Gouveia & Yolanda Demetriou & Dorothea M. I. Schönbach & Gerson Ferrari & Dorota Kleszczewska & Anna Dzielska & Miguel Peralta, 2021. "Translation and Validation of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Active Commuting to and from School (BPNS-ACS) Scale in Young Portuguese Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-9, December.
    6. João Martins & Adilson Marques & Élvio Rúbio Gouveia & Francisco Carvalho & Hugo Sarmento & Miguel González Valeiro, 2022. "Participation in Physical Education Classes and Health-Related Behaviours among Adolescents from 67 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Jennifer T. Gale & Jillian J. Haszard & Tessa Scott & Meredith C. Peddie, 2021. "The Impact of Organised Sport, Physical Education and Active Commuting on Physical Activity in a Sample of New Zealand Adolescent Females," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.

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