Environment factors associated with adolescents’ body mass index, physical activity and physical fitness in Kuching South City, Sarawak: a cross-sectional study

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whye L. Cheah ◽  
Ching T. Chang ◽  
Rosalia Saimon

Abstract This study examined the relationship between perceived built environment attributes and physical activity, physical fitness and body weight among adolescents aged 14–16 years in Sarawak. This was a cross-sectional study, using multi-stage sampling. A set of questionnaires consisting of socio-demographic information, a self-administered physical activity checklist and a Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Youth (NEWS-Y) was used. Body mass index (BMI) was measured and physical fitness was tested using a maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0. A total of 316 respondents participated. The mean BMI for boys was almost equal to the mean BMI for girls. Only 7.9% of the sampled population was found to be overweight or obese. The overall mean duration spent per day on physical activity was 128.4 min (SD 118.43), with mean of 56.1 min (SD 73.94) after school time. Girls reported to spend longer each day taking physical activity before and during school. Boys were found to have significantly higher VO2max of 27.79±5.91 mL/kg/min as compared to girls (t=11.22, p<0.000). Based on comparison with other countries, the NEWS-Y scores indicated a mixture of low and high walkability neighborhoods. Respondents who had lower BMIs reported living in lower residential density areas and less risk of crime, and respondents who had better physical fitness reported less suitable infrastructure for walking. Promotion of exercise at all levels should be continuously encouraged as it would lead to improvement in the well-being of an individual.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-78
Author(s):  
Herman Yosef Limpat Wihastyoko ◽  
Dorothea R. Kusumaningrat ◽  
Ellenora R. Mustikaningrat ◽  
Gisella S. Wruhastanti ◽  
Edith S. Rinhastyanti

COVID-19 pandemic has become the major problem over the world since 2019. This spreading has affected every section in Indonesia. Therefore, social distancing and restriction have been the primary solution this far. However, this policy trigger high sedentary behavior and could affect Body Mass Index (BMI) profile. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between Work From Home (WFH) frequency and BMI profile during COVID-19 based on physical activity. A total of 205 participants aged 18 and over who were students, private and government employees were participated in a cross-sectional study. Participants were given a questionnaire through google form online and completed the questions about duration of WFH, BMI status, and physical activity. All of the variables were analyzed. Participants engaged in this study were 40% students, 33% private employees, 27% government employees. The majority of the population had overweight BMI status (39.2%). Furthermore, most participants were doing light physical activity (74.5%). About 46.1 % of the participants rarely doing WFH (1-2 days). On the other side, a population with overweight BMI status were often doing WFH. Based on the research about the effect of pandemic on BMI profile, it can be concluded that the BMI status of the majority of respondents is overweight, and most of the respondent’s physical activity are rare. The amount of WFH frequencies can affect BMI status profile.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilelmine Carayanni ◽  
Elpis Vlachopadopoulou ◽  
Dimitra Koutsouki ◽  
Gregory C. Bogdanis ◽  
Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of body mass index category, as well as of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the participation in organized physical activity (OPA) of schoolchildren attending primary and secondary school in Greece. Furthermore, to compare the difference between the two levels. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted on a representative elementary and secondary school cohort, derived using stratification and probability proportional to size (PPS) methodology. The final sample included 18,264 subjects, aged 6 to 15 years. Parents of all students and students of secondary schools fulfilled validated questionnaires evaluating socioeconomic status, and participation to OPA. International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut offs were used to classify the children. Univariate and multivariate logistic models examined factors associated with OPA. All analyses were stratified by school level. Results Sport participation was not reported in 37.7 and 54.4% of primary and secondary schoolchildren respectively. Having BMI within normal range, being male, having parents participating in an organized activity and a high socio-economic status seem to encourage participation in OPA in both school levels. Conclusions Children with normal BMI are more likely to participate in OPA. Parents as role model as well as higher socioeconomic status of the family emerge as important influencers. Participation in OPA declines as students enter secondary school. Interventions focusing on increasing physical education and activity into school daily program should be tailored to the specific needs of different weight categories and can possibly eliminate the impact of SES inequalities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Resmiye Özdilek ◽  
Yılda Arzu Aba ◽  
Sena Dilek Aksoy ◽  
Bulat Aytek Şık ◽  
Yaşam Kemal Akpak

Objective: To investigate the adaptation of pregnant women to the recommended weight gain range according to body mass index (BMI) and to determine the factors affecting them. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a university hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology unit (tertiary center) in Turkey. This study was conducted between March 2018 and August 2018 (6 months) in pregnant women. Pregnant women with chronic disease and receiving treatment during antenatal follow-up, with twin pregnancy, with a fetus with a congenital abnormality, and nutritional disturbance were excluded from the study. Eight hundred twelve pregnant women with normal antenatal follow-up and who volunteered to participate were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.66±5.05 years. The mean weight and BMI before pregnancy were near standard in all participants. The group with the highest rate of recommended weight gain according to BMI before pregnancy was the group with low weight pregnant women. The ideal weight gain rate in all groups was 32%. Conclusions: The groups with overweight and obese pregnant women according to BMI before pregnancy had the highest rates of weight gain, above the recommended limits. BMI before pregnancy directly affects weight gain during pregnancy and the importance of pre-pregnancy counseling and weight loss is emphasized once again. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.133 How to cite this:Ozdilek R, Aba YA, Aksoy SD, Sik BA, Akpak YK. The relationship between body mass index before pregnancy and the amount of weight that should be gained during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.133 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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