Distinguishing associations between neighbourhood features and physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour time, and screen time in boys and girls

Abstract

Objective: Physical inactivity (PI), sedentary behaviour time (SB) and screen time (ST) are related but distinct behaviors for which separate research and environmental intervention frameworks may be warranted. We examined associations between neighbourhood features and PI/SB/ST among boys and girls at risk of obesity at two timepoints, i.e., childhood (8-10 years old) and pre-adolescence (10-12 years old).

Methods: Data were from the QUALITY cohort, an ongoing study of the natural history of obesity in 630 Quebec families. Based on accelerometry, excess PI was defined as accumulating < 60 min/day of moderate to vigorous physical activity and excess SB as recording < 100 counts per minute for > 50% of wear time, and excess ST was based on self report and defined as reporting > 2 h/day of recreational ST. Neighbourhood features including presence of physical activity installations, green space, walkability, traffic indicators, physical disorder and foodscape indicators were measured using direct observation and geographic information systems. Neighbourhood features were measured when children were 8-10 years of age. Separate logistic regression models were estimated at each time point. Models controlled for child's age, parental BMI, parental education, and area-level material deprivation.

Results: The odds of excess ST were lower in neighbourhoods with a higher number of parks, across all age and sex groups [ORs ranging from 0.70 (95% CI: 0.54-0.91) to 0.81(95% CI: 0.65-1.01)]. Among boys, the odds of excess SB were lower in neighbourhoods with more physical activity structures (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20-0.99); among girls, the odds of excess SB were lower in neighbourhoods with more sidewalks (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.95) and those that were exclusively residential (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04-0.45). Few neighbourhood features were associated with PI.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PI, SB and ST have both shared and distinct environmental determinants among children with parental obesity. While different patterns are likely to emerge across diverse contexts and populations, it remains relevant to consider that transforming specific features of the built environment may be more effective for some outcomes than others, and may not benefit all groups equally.

Keywords: Built environment; Physical inactivity; Screen time; Sedentary behaviour; Youth.