Citation

Sandercock G, Ogunleye A, Voss C. Pediatr. Int. 2011; 53(5): 718-724.

Affiliation

Centre for Sports and Exercise Science. Department of Biological Sciences. University of Essex. Colchester, UK. C043SQ.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Japan Pediatric Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1442-200X.2011.03354.x

PMID

21410596

Abstract

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. We measured BMI in 6628 10.0-15.9 year olds and classified them as either normal weight, overweight or obese. CRF was assessed by 20 m shuttle-run test and classified as unfit, fit or highly fit. Rural or urban dwelling was calculated from postcodes. There were no differences in frequency of BMI categories or CRF between rural and urban children (<13 years). BMI categories also did not differ between rural and urban adolescents (>13 years), but rural adolescents were less likely to be: fit (OR = .80; 95%Cl .67-.96) or highly fit (OR = .69; 95%Cl 55-.86) independent of their age, sex, race or level of deprivation. Whilst there were no differences evident in children <13 years, rural adolescents were significantly less likely to meet criterion-based cut-points for CRF. Research to elucidate why such differences exist is warranted.

Language: en