Children of Smoking and Non-Smoking Households' Perceptions of Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Exercise

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and 24-h movement guidelines in Spanish young people

Background

No prior research has investigated how exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is related to the combination of 24-h movement behaviors among young populations thus far. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between exposure to secondhand smoke and the 24-h movement guidelines.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study using data from the last available wave of the Spanish National Health Survey [2017], a nationally representative survey of the Spanish children and adult population. The final sample included 4,378 (49.0% girls) Spanish young people aged 2-14 years.

Results

A lower likelikood of meeting screen time (ST) and all three 24-h movement guidelines were found in those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in unadjusted models. After adjusting for several covariates, meeting screen time [odds ratio (OR) =0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59-0.97], sleep duration (OR =0.75; 95% CI, 0.58-0.96), and all three 24-h movement guidelines (OR =0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.91) reached significance after adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusions

Given the inverse associations found, environmental tobacco smoke exposure should be a relevant factor to consider when promoting 24-h behaviors in the young population. Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke in the environment is essential, as it can potentially influence the 24-h movement behaviors of young people, and consequently, the health benefits associated with such behaviors.

Associations between Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and Respiratory Health in Children

BACKGROUND

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) are associated with a plethora of positive health effects. Many UK children fail to meet the recommended level of PA, with an observed decline in CRF levels over recent decades. Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is responsible for a significant proportion of the worldwide burden of disease, but little is understood regarding the impact of SHS exposure on CRF and PA in children. The aim of this study was to test the associations between SHS exposure and CRF, PA, and respiratory health in children.

METHOD

Children (9-11 years) from UK primary schools in deprived areas participated (n = 104, 38 smoking households). Surveys determined household smoking, and exhaled carbon monoxide was used to indicate children's recent SHS exposure. CRF (VO_2peak) was assessed via maximal treadmill protocol using breath-by-breath analysis. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide and spirometry were utilised as indicators of respiratory health.

RESULTS

Linear regression models demonstrated that SHS exposure was negatively associated with allometrically scaled VO_2peak (B = -3.8, p = 0.030) but not PA or respiratory health.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that SHS is detrimental to children's CRF; given that approximately one-third of children are regularly exposed to SHS, this important finding has implications for both public health and the sport and exercise sciences.