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Comparison of cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index between rural and urban youth: Findings from the East of England Healthy Hearts Study
Author(s) -
Sandercock Gavin R.H.,
Ogunleye Ayodele,
Voss Christine
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2011.03354.x
Subject(s) - cardiorespiratory fitness , medicine , overweight , body mass index , demography , gerontology , multi stage fitness test , obesity , rural area , physical fitness , physical therapy , pathology , sociology
Background: The aim of the present study was to determine if there were differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) in rural versus urban youth. Methods: We measured BMI in 6628 10.0–15.9‐year‐olds and classified them as normal weight, overweight or obese. CRF was assessed with a 20‐m shuttle‐run test and subjects were classified as unfit, fit or highly fit. Rural or urban dwelling was calculated from postcodes. Results: There were no differences in frequency of BMI categories or CRF between rural and urban children (<13 years) or adolescents (>13 years). Rural adolescents were less likely to be fit (OR = 0.80; 95%CI 0.67–0.96) or highly fit (OR = 0.69; 95%CI 0.55–0.86) independent of their age, sex, race or level of deprivation. Conclusions: Whilst there were no differences evident in children <13 years, rural adolescents were significantly less likely to meet criterion‐based cut‐off points for CRF. Research to elucidate why such differences exist is warranted.