Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study
Abstract Background Nutritional status and physical activity are important factors for adolescent health. These factors may vary by the place of residence. This study aims to assess the nutritional status and physical activity levels, as well as their variations by the place of residence. Methods Th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18402-3 |
| _version_ | 1797233162376445952 |
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| author | Erol Vrevic Pavle Malovic Dragan Bacovic Danilo Bojanic Aldijana Nokic |
| author_facet | Erol Vrevic Pavle Malovic Dragan Bacovic Danilo Bojanic Aldijana Nokic |
| author_sort | Erol Vrevic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Nutritional status and physical activity are important factors for adolescent health. These factors may vary by the place of residence. This study aims to assess the nutritional status and physical activity levels, as well as their variations by the place of residence. Methods The sample consisted of 1503 adolescents (46.3% male; 53.7% female), with a mean age of 15.7 ± 0.7 years. Nutritional status was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), and Body Fat Percentage (BF). Physical activity levels were assessed using the PAQ-C questionnaire. Differences in nutritional status among adolescents living in urban and rural areas were analyzed using Chi-square test (p ≤ 0.05), while differences in physical activity levels were analyzed using an independent samples t-test (p ≤ 0.05). Results In terms of BMI, 14.7% of males were overweight and 10.1% were obese, while 12% of female adolescents were overweight and 3.1% were obese. There were no differences in nutritional status among adolescents living in urban and rural areas (BMI, WHtR, BF). Male adolescents in rural areas had significantly higher physical activity levels compared to urban areas (p = 0.032). They showed higher activity scores during a spare time (p = 0.002), physical education classes (p = 0.002), little breaks (p = 0.007), and lunchtime (p = 0.034). Female adolescents showed significance only in spare time activity (p = 0.020). Conclusion The differences in nutritional status among adolescents living in urban and rural areas were not found. However, male adolescents living in urban areas showed lower physical activity levels than their rural counterparts. Strategies should be implemented to promote physical activity among adolescents in urban areas, and attention should be given to the further urbanization process to create improved conditions for engaging in physical activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:11:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b2327bab7174e87a15dba44fcde958a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:11:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b2327bab7174e87a15dba44fcde958a2024-03-31T11:37:32ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-03-0124111010.1186/s12889-024-18402-3Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national studyErol Vrevic0Pavle Malovic1Dragan Bacovic2Danilo Bojanic3Aldijana Nokic4Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of MontenegroFaculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of MontenegroFaculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of MontenegroFaculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of MontenegroFaculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of MontenegroAbstract Background Nutritional status and physical activity are important factors for adolescent health. These factors may vary by the place of residence. This study aims to assess the nutritional status and physical activity levels, as well as their variations by the place of residence. Methods The sample consisted of 1503 adolescents (46.3% male; 53.7% female), with a mean age of 15.7 ± 0.7 years. Nutritional status was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), and Body Fat Percentage (BF). Physical activity levels were assessed using the PAQ-C questionnaire. Differences in nutritional status among adolescents living in urban and rural areas were analyzed using Chi-square test (p ≤ 0.05), while differences in physical activity levels were analyzed using an independent samples t-test (p ≤ 0.05). Results In terms of BMI, 14.7% of males were overweight and 10.1% were obese, while 12% of female adolescents were overweight and 3.1% were obese. There were no differences in nutritional status among adolescents living in urban and rural areas (BMI, WHtR, BF). Male adolescents in rural areas had significantly higher physical activity levels compared to urban areas (p = 0.032). They showed higher activity scores during a spare time (p = 0.002), physical education classes (p = 0.002), little breaks (p = 0.007), and lunchtime (p = 0.034). Female adolescents showed significance only in spare time activity (p = 0.020). Conclusion The differences in nutritional status among adolescents living in urban and rural areas were not found. However, male adolescents living in urban areas showed lower physical activity levels than their rural counterparts. Strategies should be implemented to promote physical activity among adolescents in urban areas, and attention should be given to the further urbanization process to create improved conditions for engaging in physical activity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18402-3AdolescenceObesityOverweightPhysical activityPlace of residence |
| spellingShingle | Erol Vrevic Pavle Malovic Dragan Bacovic Danilo Bojanic Aldijana Nokic Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study BMC Public Health Adolescence Obesity Overweight Physical activity Place of residence |
| title | Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study |
| title_full | Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study |
| title_fullStr | Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study |
| title_short | Differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of Montenegro - national study |
| title_sort | differences in nutritional status and level of physical activity among adolescents living in urban and rural areas of montenegro national study |
| topic | Adolescence Obesity Overweight Physical activity Place of residence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18402-3 |
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