title: Physical activity and constipation in Hong Kong adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association of constipation with exercise, non-exercise physical activity, and sedentary behaviours in Hong Kong adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006-2007, 42 secondary schools were randomly selected to participate in the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance (HKSOS) project. A total of 33692 Form 1-7 students (44.9% boys; mean age 14.8, SD 1.9 years) completed an anonymous questionnaire on lifestyle behaviours. Constipation was defined as a frequency of evacuation of less than once every two days. Exercise (moderate-to-vigorous levels) and non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) were each considered insufficient when less than 1 hour per day, and sedentary behaviours were considered excessive when over 4 hours per day. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for constipation in relation to exercise, NEPA, and sedentary behaviours, adjusting for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Constipation was identified in 15.6% (95% CI 15.2% - 16.0%) of adolescents overall, 14.0% in those with sufficient exercise and 19.6% in those without. Constipation was associated with insufficient exercise (AOR 1.26, 95% CI 1.16 - 1.36), insufficient NEPA 1.21 (1.10 - 1.33) and excessive sedentary behaviours (1.25, 1.17 - 1.34). Compared with having none of the above 3 inactive behaviours, increasing AORs of constipation were observed for having 1 (AOR 1.23), 2 (AOR 1.57) and 3 (AOR 1.88) inactive behaviours (p for trend <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Constipation was associated with insufficient physical activity and excessive sedentary behaviours among Chinese adolescents with a dose-response relation. If the association is causal, constipation could be prevented by promotion of physical activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Sai-Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wing-Sze
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tai-Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires