Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013 Jan 29;10:12. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-12.
Active commuting to/from school is an important source of physical activity that has been declining over the past years. Although it is an affordable and simple way of increasing physical activity levels it is still unclear whether it has enough potential to improve health. Therefore, the aim of this cross sectional study was to examine the relationship between active commuting to/from school and metabolic risk factors in 10 to 12 year old children.
Participants were 229 adolescents, selected through consecutive sampling, (121 girls) with mean age of 11.65 (±0.73) years old from Porto, Portugal. Means of transport to/from school was accessed by asking: "How do you usually travel to school?" and "How do you usually travel from school?". Active commuting was considered if children reported at least one of the trips (to or from school) by active means. Total physical activity was obtained with Actigraph accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Lipid profile measurements were conducted with Cholestech LDX® analyser. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured by standard methods. The criteria for metabolic syndrome defined by International Diabetes Federation for children and adolescents were used.
Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis suggested that walkers have higher odds to have a better waist circumference (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.63-6.01) and better high density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.01-4.52) profiles than non-active commuters, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. No associations were found for other metabolic risk factors.
Exertions to increase and maintain walking to school may be particularly relevant as it is likely to have a positive impact on children's health and eventually decrease metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
往返学校的积极通勤是身体活动的一个重要来源，近年来这一来源的身体活动量一直在下降。尽管这是一种增加身体活动水平的经济实惠且简单的方式，但它是否有足够的潜力改善健康状况仍不清楚。因此，本横断面研究的目的是检验 10 至 12 岁儿童往返学校的积极通勤与代谢风险因素之间的关系。
参与者为 229 名青少年，通过连续抽样选择（121 名女孩），来自葡萄牙波尔图，平均年龄为 11.65（±0.73）岁。通过询问“您通常如何上学？”和“您通常如何从学校回家？”来了解往返学校的交通方式。如果儿童报告至少有一次（往返学校）是通过积极的方式进行的，则认为是积极通勤。使用 Actigraph 加速度计连续 7 天获取总身体活动量。使用 Cholestech LDX®分析仪进行血脂谱测量。通过标准方法测量腰围和血压。使用国际糖尿病联合会为儿童和青少年定义的代谢综合征标准。
调整后的二元逻辑回归分析表明，步行者的腰围（OR=2.64，95%CI=1.63-6.01）和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（OR=2.14，95%CI=1.01-4.52）水平更好的可能性更高，独立于中等到剧烈的身体活动。对于其他代谢风险因素，没有发现关联。
增加和维持步行上学的努力可能特别重要，因为这可能对儿童的健康产生积极影响，最终降低代谢和心血管疾病的风险。
