Physical Activity in Adolescents Living in Rural and Urban New Caledonia: The Role of Socioenvironmental Factors and the Association With Weight Status

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is an important factor for the prevention of overweight and obesity, particularly during adolescence. This study focuses on the understudied adolescent population of New Caledonia with the aim to (1) determine the daily PA levels and estimate the sedentary time through out-of-school sitting time; (2) highlight the influence of sociodemographic and environmental factors, and (3) assess the associations of PA and sitting time with overweight and obesity. A sample of 508 school-going adolescents living in New Caledonia was surveyed about their PA habits using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, as well as about the context in which they usually engage in PA. The influences of the place of living and ethnic community were also investigated. Results indicated that about 66% of the adolescents performed an average of at least 60 min of PA daily. Both Melanesian adolescent boys and girls were more active than Caucasian adolescents but only when they lived in rural areas (females: 115 vs. 93 min/day, p = 0.018; males: 133 vs. 97 min/day, p = 0.018). Indeed, PA was reduced in an urban environment (females: 88 min/day; males: 95 min/day, p = 0.028; rural vs. urban in Melanesian adolescents). Melanesian adolescents also spent less time in out-of-school sitting than Caucasian adolescents independently of where they lived (females: 164 vs. 295 min/day, p < 0.001; males: 167 vs. 239 min/day, p = 0.001). Feeling safe was positively associated with PA levels (females: ORadj = 2.85, p < 0.001; males: ORadj = 4.45, p < 0.001). In the adolescent boys, accessibility to a suitable place was also an important factor (ORadj = 2.94, p = 0.002). Finally, while PA and sitting time were negatively associated with overweight in male adolescents (ORadj = 0.28, p = 0.044 and ORadj = 0.39, p = 0.004), they were not in females. Living in a rural area allowed the Melanesian adolescents to maintain a more active lifestyle with more physical activities and less sitting time. Our results also indicated that safety was an important driver for engagement in PA. The urban environment in New Caledonia appears to be a contributor of a less active lifestyle in adolescents.

The Barriers to and Facilitators of Physical Activity and Sport for Oceania with Non-European, Non-Asian (ONENA) Ancestry Children and Adolescents: A Mixed Studies Systematic Review

“…Another barrier experienced by ONENA youth was safety, which led to the facilitators that highlighted the importance of parent and community member engagement with youth in PA and sport. This finding is supported by another study conducted with adolescents living in rural and urban New Caledonia (a PICT), which indicated that safety was an important driver for engagement in PA, particularly for younger children and adolescent females [ 35 ].…”

“…However, an evaluation of program efficacy found that these school-based PA programs were limited by low participation rates and reach. Only two studies conducted in New Caledonia showed the effectiveness of a digital PA intervention among ONENA adolescents [ 32 ], as well as the influence of socioeconomic status, place of living (e.g., tribal, rural, urban), ethnicity (European, ONENA, Asian), and safety in urban areas on PA for adolescents [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Therefore, little is known about the barriers to and facilitators of PA faced by ONENA adolescents residing in PICT and Australia.…”

Juvenile diabetes, its’ pervasiveness, and actionplan for determent

“…In addition to this, many children and adolescents are developing diabetes which is a major health concern 32,33 . The way of living of children and adolescents has changed due to modernization, availability of ready-to-eat food, fast urban expansion, and reduced physical activity [34][35][36] . Because SEA communities have a immense genetic propensity for metabolic abnormalities like diabetes and CVD, the health impacts are severe 37 .…”

Differences in Nutritional Status and Level of Physical Activity Among Adolescents Living in Urban and Rural Areas of Montenegro - National Study

“…Physical activity plays a signi cant role in maintaining the health of adolescents and preventing overweight and obesity [11], while according to WHO data [12], children and adolescents who engage in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity have no risk of overweight and obesity. The bene ts of physical activity are numerous, including improvements in physical tness (including cardiorespiratory and muscular tness), maintenance of normal blood pressure, dyslipidemia, glucose, insulin resistance, better bone health, cognitive outcomes, mental health, and more [13].…”