[HTML][HTML] Active commuting and healthy behavior among adolescents in neighborhoods with varying socioeconomic status: the NESLA Study

BG Buli, A Tillander, T Fell, K B�lter�- International journal of�…, 2022 - mdpi.com
BG Buli, A Tillander, T Fell, K B�lter
International journal of environmental research and public health, 2022mdpi.com
(1) Background: The World Health Organization recommends active commuting as a source
of physical activity. Active commuting is determined by various factors, including the
socioeconomic status (SES) of families and neighborhoods, distance to schools, perceived
neighborhood safety, lifestyles and availability of walkways and biking paths. This study
aimed to assess factors associated with modes of transportation to and from school among
adolescents aged 16–19 living in a middle-sized city in Sweden.(2) Method: Three hundred�…
(1) Background: The World Health Organization recommends active commuting as a source of physical activity. Active commuting is determined by various factors, including the socioeconomic status (SES) of families and neighborhoods, distance to schools, perceived neighborhood safety, lifestyles and availability of walkways and biking paths. This study aimed to assess factors associated with modes of transportation to and from school among adolescents aged 16–19 living in a middle-sized city in Sweden. (2) Method: Three hundred and fourteen students, of whom 55% were females, from schools in the city of V�ster�s participated in the study. Printed as well as web-based self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. (3) Results: Adolescents living in high SES neighborhoods were 80% more likely to bike or walk to school (OR = 1.80; CI: 1.01, 3.20) than adolescents living in low SES neighborhoods. Furthermore, active commuting was associated with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables (OR = 1.77; CI: 1.05, 2.97) and less consumption of junk foods (OR = 0.43; CI: 0.26, 0.71), as compared to passive commuting. (4) Conclusions: Active commuting is a cost-effective and sustainable source of regular physical activity and should be encouraged at a societal level.
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