[Factors associated with physical activity and body mass index among schoolchildren from Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico]

In 2015, Mexico was the top country for childhood obesity. The objective was to identify the association between physical activity and sedentary lifestyle with the social and demographic characteristics of families of schoolchildren in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.

In a cross-sectional study, 192 schoolchildren were randomly selected. Body mass index (BMI), active and sedentary behaviors, and socio-demographic characteristics of families were obtained. Logistic regression models with the included variables were constructed.

Males living in not-crowding houses [OR 6.12 (2.17-17.25), p = 0.001], whose mothers were housewives [OR 2.44 (1.00, 5.94), p = 0.05], practiced more physical activity. Active transport to school was more common in schoolchildren whose fathers had lower income [OR 3.13 (1.27, 7.7), p = 0.013] and employment as peasant or mason [OR 5.12 (1.13, 23.3), p = 0.034]. Schoolchildren of nuclear families spent more hours watching television [OR 2.69 (1.10, 6.58), p = 0.03]. The frequency of outdoor playing was higher in males whose fathers had unstable employment [OR 2.93 (1.06, 8.1), p = 0.038] and low education [OR 2.94 (0.96, 8.98), p = 0.059].

Families with lower socioeconomic strata (less educated parents, unstable employment and family overcrowding) are more associated with active activities that do not require active economic spending.