An examination of school- and student-level characteristics associated with the likelihood of students' meeting the Canadian physical activity guidelines in the COMPASS study

OBJECTIVES: To examine school- and student-level correlates of physical activity. METHODS: Cross-sectional Year 2 data collected from 45 298 grade 9-12 students attending 89 secondary schools in the COMPASS study were examined using multi-level modelling to predict the likelihood of students a) achieving 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily; and b) achieving the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) activity guideline for youth (60 minutes/MVPA daily, vigorous physical activity at least three days in a week, and resistance training at least three days in a week). RESULTS: The prevalence of students achieving 60 minutes of MVPA daily and meeting the CSEP guideline was 49.3% and 31.0% respectively. Modest between-school variability was identified (1.1% for 60 minutes MVPA and 0.8% for CSEP guideline). School-level characteristics significantly associated with the outcome measures included location, school size, quality of facilities, and accessibility of facilities. Significant student-level correlates included sex, grade, weekly income, binge drinking, fruit and vegetable consumption, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Most youth in this large study reported inadequate physical activity levels. Students were more likely to achieve 60 minutes of MVPA if they attended a larger school or a school in an urban location, whereas students were less likely to meet the CSEP guideline if they attended a school in a small urban location. However, student-level factors, such as binge drinking and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, were more strongly associated with the outcomes examined. KEY WORDS: Physical activity; adolescent; schools; environment design OBJECTIFS : Examiner les correlats de l'activite physique au niveau des etablissements scolaires et des eleves. METHODE : Les donnees transversales de l'An 2 recueillies aupres de 45 298 eleves de la 9e a la 12e annee frequentant 89 ecoles secondaires dans le cadre de l'etude COMPASS ont ete examinees par modelisation a niveaux multiples pour predire la vraisemblance que les eleves : a) accomplissent 60 minutes d'activite physique d'intensite moderee a elevee (APIME) par jour; et b) respectent les lignes directrices de la Societe canadienne de physiologie de l'exercice (SCPE) pour l'activite des jeunes (60 minutes d'APIME par jour, activite physique vigoureuse au moins trois jours par semaine et entrainement contre resistance au moins trois jours par semaine). RESULTATS : La prevalence de l'accomplissement de 60 minutes d'APIME par jour et du respect des lignes directrices de la SCPE chez les etudiants etait de 49,3 % et de 31 %, respectivement. Des ecarts mineurs d'une ecole a l'autre ont ete observes (1,1 % pour les 60 minutes d'APIME et 0,8 % pour les lignes directrices de la SCPE). Les caracteristiques des ecoles presentant une correlation significative avec les indicateurs de resultat etaient l'emplacement, la taille de l'ecole, la qualite des installations et l'accessibilite des installations. Les correlations significatives pour les eleves etaient le sexe, la classe, le revenu hebdomadaire, les exces occasionnels d'alcool, la consommation de fruits et legumes et l'indice de masse corporelle. CONCLUSIONS : La plupart des jeunes de cette vaste etude ont fait etat de niveaux d'activite physique insuffisants. Les eleves etaient plus susceptibles d'accomplir 60 minutes d'APIME s'ils frequentaient une grosse ecole ou une ecole en milieu urbain, mais les eleves etaient moins susceptibles de respecter les lignes directrices de la SCPE s'ils frequentaient une petite ecole en milieu urbain. Toutefois, les facteurs propres aux eleves, comme les exces occasionnels d'alcool et la consommation insuffisante de fruits et legumes, etaient plus fortement associes aux resultats examines. MOTS CLES : Activite physique; adolescent; etablissements scolaires; conception de l'environnement
Physical activity has been shown to have many health benefits for youth, including improved cardiovascular health, blood pressure, body composition, strength and endurance, aspects of mental health, and academic performance. [...]