Contrasting physical activity patterns in children and adolescents living in differing environments in the U.K

There is evidence for lower physical activity (PA) in rural adults; it is important to evaluate how the environment influences the PA of children and adolescents.

We compared the PA of 6485 English 10-15.9 year olds according to two systems for classifying the immediate environment. System one compared urban and rural areas. System two compared urban, town and fringe, and rural areas. Analyses were carried out separately for children (<13 years) and adolescents (>13 years).

Rural children were more active than those from urban areas (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.15-1.66) as were adolescents (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11-1.51). Using trilateral division, children were more active if they lived in town and fringe (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.67) or rural (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.14-1.84) areas compared with urban areas. Adolescents from town and fringe areas were more active than urban dwellers (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24-1.81). Rural adolescents' PA did not differ from urban dwellers'.

Rural environments support PA in children but not that of adolescents. Town and fringe areas with mixed elements of rural and urban land use appear to facilitate and sustain PA in both children and adolescents.