Physical activity and constipation in Hong Kong adolescents. 2014

Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association of constipation with exercise, non-exercise physical activity, and sedentary behaviours in Hong Kong adolescents. METHODS In 2006-2007, 42 secondary schools were randomly selected to participate in the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance (HKSOS) project. A total of 33692 Form 1-7 students (44.9% boys; mean age 14.8, SD 1.9 years) completed an anonymous questionnaire on lifestyle behaviours. Constipation was defined as a frequency of evacuation of less than once every two days. Exercise (moderate-to-vigorous levels) and non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) were each considered insufficient when less than 1 hour per day, and sedentary behaviours were considered excessive when over 4 hours per day. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for constipation in relation to exercise, NEPA, and sedentary behaviours, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Constipation was identified in 15.6% (95% CI 15.2% - 16.0%) of adolescents overall, 14.0% in those with sufficient exercise and 19.6% in those without. Constipation was associated with insufficient exercise (AOR 1.26, 95% CI 1.16 - 1.36), insufficient NEPA 1.21 (1.10 - 1.33) and excessive sedentary behaviours (1.25, 1.17 - 1.34). Compared with having none of the above 3 inactive behaviours, increasing AORs of constipation were observed for having 1 (AOR 1.23), 2 (AOR 1.57) and 3 (AOR 1.88) inactive behaviours (p for trend <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Constipation was associated with insufficient physical activity and excessive sedentary behaviours among Chinese adolescents with a dose-response relation. If the association is causal, constipation could be prevented by promotion of physical activity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009043 Motor Activity Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon. Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003248 Constipation Infrequent or difficult evacuation of FECES. These symptoms are associated with a variety of causes, including low DIETARY FIBER intake, emotional or nervous disturbances, systemic and structural disorders, drug-induced aggravation, and infections. Colonic Inertia,Dyschezia
D005260 Female Females
D006723 Hong Kong The former British crown colony located off the southeast coast of China, comprised of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and New Territories. The three sites were ceded to the British by the Chinese respectively in 1841, 1860, and 1898. Hong Kong reverted to China in July 1997. The name represents the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese xianggang, fragrant port, from xiang, perfume and gang, port or harbor, with reference to its currents sweetened by fresh water from a river west of it. Kowloon,New Territories,Hongkong
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000294 Adolescent Behavior Any observable response or action of an adolescent. Behavior, Adolescent,Adolescent Behaviors,Behaviors, Adolescent
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor

Related Publications

Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
January 2018, PloS one,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
June 2003, Perceptual and motor skills,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
November 1987, Public health,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
April 2015, BMC pediatrics,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
December 2003, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
November 2014, Asia-Pacific journal of public health,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
January 2003, Child abuse & neglect,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
February 2010, BMC public health,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
September 1999, Research quarterly for exercise and sport,
Rong Huang, and Sai-Yin Ho, and Wing-Sze Lo, and Tai-Hing Lam
March 2008, Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!