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Neighborhood Environment, Active Commute, and Healthy BMI in Adolescents

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  • Yehua Dennis Wei

    (Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • Weiye Xiao

    (Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • Ivis Garcia

    (Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Yehua Dennis Wei & Weiye Xiao & Ivis Garcia, 2021. "Neighborhood Environment, Active Commute, and Healthy BMI in Adolescents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8286-:d:600681
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jana Pyšná & Ladislav Pyšný & David Cihlář & Dominika Petrů & Martin Škopek, 2020. "Effect of Physical Activity on Obesity in Second Stage Pupils of Elementary Schools in Northwest Bohemia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Siphesihle Nqweniso & Cheryl Walter & Rosa du Randt & Ann Aerts & Larissa Adams & Jan Degen & Stefanie Gall & Zaahira Gani & Nandi Joubert & Ivan Müller & Danielle Smith & Harald Seelig & Peter Steinm, 2020. "Prevention of Overweight and Hypertension through Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Extracurricular Sport Participation among South African Schoolchildren," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Alexis Espinoza-Salinas & Edgardo Molina-Sotomayor & Johnattan Cano-Montoya & Jose Antonio Gonzalez-Jurado, 2021. "Is Active Lifestyle Related to Autonomic Nervous System Function and Lipid Profile in People with Overweight? A Study Pilot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, February.
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