Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
06:48
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Longitudinal associations between cycling to school and weight status
Elling Bere1, Anke Oenema, Richard G Prins
1Department of Public Health, Sport and Nutrition, University of Agder , Norway. elling.bere@uia.no
Summary
Sustained cycling to school is linked to lower odds of adolescent overweight. Stopping cycling increases the likelihood of being overweight, highlighting the importance of promoting active commuting for weight management.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Adolescent overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns.
- Promoting physical activity, such as cycling, is crucial for weight management in young people.
- Understanding the long-term impact of commuting behaviors on weight status is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal association between cycling to school and weight status in adolescents.
- To compare weight status changes in adolescents who started, stopped, or continued cycling to school.
- To examine these associations in two European cities with high rates of cycling to school.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from two studies (ENDORSE and YOUTH IN BALANCE) were analyzed.
- Participants (mean age 13.2-13.4 years) were categorized by cycling behavior (no cycling, started, stopped, continued).
- Weight status was assessed at two time points (2 years apart) using Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria.
Main Results:
- Adolescents who stopped cycling to school showed significantly higher odds of being overweight (OR = 3.19).
- Adolescents who continued cycling to school had significantly lower odds of being overweight (OR = 0.44).
- These trends were consistent across both study samples.
Conclusions:
- Sustained cycling to school is associated with maintaining a healthy weight status in adolescents.
- Interventions to combat adolescent overweight and obesity should consider promoting consistent cycling behavior.
- Encouraging active commuting may be an effective strategy for long-term weight management.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
01:26Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
01:53Cause and Effect
While variables are sometimes correlated because one does cause the other, it could also be that some other factor, a confounding variable, is actually causing the systematic movement in our variables of interest. For instance, as sales in ice cream increase, so does the overall rate of crime. Is it possible that indulging in your favorite flavor of ice cream could send you on a crime spree? Or, after committing crime do you think you might decide to treat yourself to a cone?
01:30Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - I
The Bradford Hill criteria are a group of principles that provide a framework to determine a causal relationship between a specific factor and a disease. There are nine criteria that are pivotal in assessing causality in epidemiological studies. Here's a closer look at Strength, Consistency, Specificity, and Temporality criteria with definitions and examples:
01:12Coefficient of Correlation
The correlation coefficient, r, developed by Karl Pearson in the early 1900s, is numerical and provides a measure of strength and direction of the linear association between the independent variable x and the dependent variable y.
If you suspect a linear relationship between x and y, then r can measure how strong the linear relationship is.
What the VALUE of r tells us:
The value of r is always between –1 and +1: –1 ≤ r ≤ 1.
The size of the correlation r indicates the strength of the linear...
If you suspect a linear relationship between x and y, then r can measure how strong the linear relationship is.
What the VALUE of r tells us:
The value of r is always between –1 and +1: –1 ≤ r ≤ 1.
The size of the correlation r indicates the strength of the linear...
01:20Lifestyle Factors and Health
Lifestyle factors play a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases. Key elements, such as regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and abstinence from smoking, can significantly enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being while reducing the risk of several life-threatening conditions.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...