Association of Occupations Usually Performed by Mexican Adolescents, with the Level of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Mass Index

Abstract

This chapter shows the way in which Mexican adolescents distribute their time during the week and the possible effect on body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (ACR). Using The Habitual Activities and Occupations Recall (HAOR), the percentage of time habitually devoted to seven types of activities was estimated, and the value of total energy expenditure (GET) and the ratio of total energy expenditure/basal energy expenditure (GET/GEB) on each day of the week in 63 adolescents of 17.0 (1.9) years of age. Both sexes sleep longer at the weekend. From Monday to Friday, school activities covered the largest part of the day. On the contrary, domestic activities reached higher time values on the weekend. Time spent on transportation is associated with school attendance. Sports activities were lower than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and work activities registered very low values. In men, the GET/GEB ratio was significantly lower during the weekend (p < 0.05). Women did not show significant differences between these two periods, and their values were significantly lower than men. The value of the GET/GEB ratio showed a significant positive effect on the ACR but not on the BMI value.