title: Associations between built environment and physical activity of 7-8-year-old children. Cross-sectional results from the Lithuanian COSI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research shows that regular engagement in physical activity in childhood is associated with multiple physical and psychosocial health benefits. The data on associations between children physical activity level and built environment in Lithuania are limited. The built environment is one of many variables thought to affect children physical activity level. But consequently there is growing interest in how physical environment influences physical activity of school age children. The aim of this paper is to evaluate associations between physical activity of primary school age children and built environment (road safety, travel distance, playgrounds, etc.) in Lithuania.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained participating in the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). The study protocol was granted ethical approval from Lithuanian Bioethics Committee (No. 6B-10-02). Parents/guardians provided written informed consent. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2013. A multilevel sampling method was employed for composing a national representative sample. The representing data were collected by means of standardized questionnaires, which were filled out by 3802 parents of the selected first-formers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the first-formers was 7.3 years (SD 0.5). More than half (62.2%) of parents stated that roads to schools were safe; most (78.7%) of adults notified that children had where to play and exercise in their living area. Place of residence of family and recreation areas in living environment were significant predictors of children's daily physical activity and possibility to attend sport or dancing clubs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from the national survey of 7-8-year-old children of Lithuania reveal that urban living area of families, availability of playgrounds and recreational facilities were associated with higher possibilities of children to be sufficiently physically active.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: vilmazaltauske@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Žaltauskė
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: ausrapet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aušra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrauskienė
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003615:Dancing; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Built environment; Children; Physical activity