Abstract
Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess the relationships between trips in nature, gathering of wild plants, fishing and hunting and weight status. Methods: Data from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 996 parents of sixth- and seventh-graders from 38 randomly chosen schools in two Norwegian counties. All data are self-reported: Weight and height (participants were considered as overweight if BMI were 25 or higher), family trips in nature (dichotomized into ≥once a week vs. less than once a week), gathering of wild plants/mushrooms, fishing and hunting (all dichotomized into ≥sometimes vs. never), sex, family education level and general physical activity level. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with overweight as the dependent variable Results: Adjusting for all outdoor activities; those engaging in nature trips (OR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.37–0.75) and those engaging in gathering (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.55–0.98) were less frequently overweight, while those fishing (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.35–2.47) were more frequently overweight. After also adjusting for sex, family education level and general physical activity level, nature trips (OR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.36–0.75) and fishing (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.12–2.10) were still significant, gathering was not. No association between hunting and weight status was observed.
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