Is walking to school associated with improved metabolic health?
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. andreia.pizarro@gmail.com
Andreia Nogueira
AN
Pizarro
José Carlos
JC
Ribeiro
Elisa Amélia
EA
Marques
Jorge
J
Mota
Maria Paula
MP
Santos
D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009043:Motor Activity; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011174:Portugal; D012574:Schools; D014186:Transportation; D055105:Waist Circumference; D016138:Walking
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL