Excess weight, arterial pressure and physical activity in commuting to school: correlations

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and elevated arterial pressure (AP) has increased in children and adolescents, whereas physical activity has decreased. OBJECTIVE: To identify and correlate excess weight, body fat and elevated AP among active and passive students with the way they commute to school. METHODS: One thousand five hundred and seventy students aged 7 to 12 years participated in the study conducted in João Pessoa, state of Paraíba. Students completed a questionnaire about the way they commuted to school (active = walking/biking or passive = by car/motorcycle/bus) and the time spent traveling to school. Excess weight was determined by BMI > 25 kg/m², excess body fat as > 85th percentile for tricipital fold measurement, and high AP as >90th percentile. Chi-square test and Poisson’s regression were used for the analysis. RESULTS: Active commuting was associated with a lower prevalence of excess weight and body fat as compared to passive commuting (p0.05) CONCLUSION: Passive commuting to school showed a correlation with excess weight and body fat but not with elevated AP. Excess weight was associated with excessive body fat and elevated AP. Excess weight should be prevented as a way to avoid fat accumulation and AP elevation.