title: Vicinity of Schools, But Not of Residences, Seems to Regulate Physical and Sports Activities of 13-Year-Old Teenagers in a South European Setting.
abstract: Proximity to urban green spaces (UGS) and open sports spaces (OSS) benefits health, promotes physical activity (PA) and sports practice (SP).
  
  
  
  Analyze the association between PA or SP according to distances between UGS or OSS and teenagers' residences or schools.
  
  
  
  We evaluated 1333 (53.9% girls) teenagers (13 years old) living and studying in Porto, Portugal (EPITeen cohort). PA was classified as light or moderate/vigorous. Distances were the shortest routes from residences or schools to UGS/OSS, and classified in ≤250 m; >250 m to ≤500 m; >500 m to ≤750 m; >750 m. Chi-square test and chi-square for trends were used to compare proportions; associations were measured using logistic regression, through odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting to BMI and parental education.
  
  
  
  Regarding vicinity' of schools, the prevalence of moderate/vigorous PA among boys, decreases as distances to OSS increases. For girls, the prevalence of sports decreases as distances to UGS increase. For boys, we found an association between moderate/vigorous PA and proximity to OSS in the vicinity of schools: considering ≤250 m as reference, the odds of moderate/vigorous PA is 0.20 (0.06-0.63) for >250 m to ≤500 m; 0.21 (0.07-0.61) for >500 m to ≤750 m and 0.19 (0.06-0.58) for >750 m.
  
  
  
  Vicinities of schools seem to influence teenagers to be more physically active and increase sports participation.
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Magalhães
authors: Elisabete
authors: E
authors: Ramos
authors: Maria Fátima
authors: MF
authors: Pina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011174:Portugal; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: environment; physical activity