Built for movement: Neighborhoods and adolescent physical activity behaviors, and the moderating role of socioeconomic position and gender.

This study examined whether the built environment was associated with physical activity among adolescents in Oslo, Norway, and the role of socioeconomic position and gender as potential moderators of this association. We used data from 897 adolescents who participated in the TACKLE cross-sectional study conducted in 2020. Built environment features (recreational facilities, parks, forest, public transport, traffic calming devices, and schools) were assessed objectively using Geographical Information Systems. Physical activity data included device-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, total physical activity, and self-reported active transportation to school. Using general linear models and logistic regression, we found that most built environment features were unrelated to the participants' device-measured physical activity. Longer distances to school and to traffic calming devices were associated with decreased likelihood of participants reporting active transportation to school. Our moderated regression analysis showed that adolescents with low socioeconomic backgrounds seemed less affected by longer distances to school compared with their high socioeconomic counterparts. Furthermore, boys appeared to be more sensitive to traffic safety relative to girls. Implementing traffic calming devices may enhance active transportation to school and improve traffic safety for Norwegian adolescents.

Bone health in elite Norwegian endurance cyclists and runners: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Athletes who compete in non-weight-bearing activities such as swimming and cycling are at risk of developing low bone mineral density (BMD). Athletes in long-distance running are at risk of low BMD. OBJECTIVE: (1) To evaluate the bone health in Norwegian male and female national elite road cyclists and middle-distance and long-distance runners, and to identify cases of low BMD. (2) To identify possible risk factors associated with low BMD. METHODS: Twenty-one runners (11 females and 10 males) and 19 road cyclists (7 females and 12 males) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurement of BMD in total body, femoral neck and lumbar spine was measured. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding training, injuries, calcium intake and health variables. RESULTS: The cyclists had lower BMD for all measured sites compared with the runners (p≤0.05). Ten of 19 cyclists were classified as having low BMD according to American College of Sports Medicine criteria (Z-score ≤-1), despite reporting to train heavy resistance training on the lower extremities. Low BMD was site specific having occurred in the lumbar spine and the femoral neck and was not confined to females. Type of sport was the only factor significantly associated with low BMD. CONCLUSION: National elite Norwegian road cyclists had lower BMD compared with runners, and a large proportion was classified as having low BMD, despite having performed heavy resistance training. Interventions to increase BMD in this population should be considered.