The Associations Between Urbanicity and Physical Activity and Sitting Time in Mexico

Abstract

There was evidence of associations between urbanicity and physical activity in Mexico.

Association between urbanicity and physical activity in Mexican adolescents: The use of a composite urbanicity measure

“…Based on previous research, Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca were chosen due to their varied urbanicity level (Mexico City: 58.16 vs. Oaxaca: 39.70, on a zero to 70 scale) in which population size/density, economic activity, built environment, communication, education, diversity and health services were the components used to determine urbanicity [ 8 ]. Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and has a population size of 8,918,653 in an area of 1,495 km2, with an annual population growth rate of 0.3%.…”

“…A list of public schools in both states was provided by the Ministry of Education in Mexico and school sampling was stratified by socio-economic status (SES) and urbanicity level. Each municipality from both states was allocated to a SES tertile (low, medium or high) according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography from Mexico and then each municipality in the SES categories was given a urbanicity level (low, medium, high) based on previous research [ 8 ]. Schools in municipalities were identified and fifteen schools from each SES-urbanicity combination were sampled giving 1,440 potential schools for each state.…”

“…Urbanicity and environmental features (e.g., speed of traffic, number of pedestrian crossings and sidewalks) have been identified as potential correlates of physical activity [ 8 ]. Urbanicity is defined as “the impact of living in urban areas at a given point in time … the presence of conditions that are particular to urban areas or are present to a much greater extent than in non-urban areas” [ 9 ].…”

“…Similarly, the physical activity level (PAL = total energy expenditure/basal metabolic rate) of adults dwelling in urban areas of Papua New Guinea was lower (PAL = 1.63±0.19, sedentary or light activity lifestyle) than those in rural areas (PAL = 1.88±0.26, active or moderately active lifestyle) (p<0.01) [ 12 ]. Further, overall urbanicity in Mexico accounted for a mean decrease of moderate physical activity between 10 and 17.6 minutes per week, and education and diversity urbanicity sub-scores were negatively associated with vigorous physical activity amongst adults [ 8 ]. In a study with Kenyan adolescents, urban habitants reported lower MVPA (18 minutes per day in men & 25 minutes per day in women (p<0.05)), than those living in a rural environment [ 13 ].…”

“…These measures are tailored to the political and socioeconomic situation of a country, allowing the assessment of urbanicity over time and across different environments through multi-item scales (e.g., population size, population density, communication, transportation, educational facilities, health services, markets, housing, diversity, sanitation, & built environment). Recent research in Mexico examined the association between physical activity and urbanicity using the scale by Novak et al, in this study, physical activity was negatively associated with population size/density, economic activity, communication and diversity sub-scales of urbanicity [ 8 ]. However, this study used state-level measures of urbanicity that may fail to quantify individuals’ immediate environment, which is likely to have a stronger influence on their physical activity.…”