Gambling and Physical Activity among Ontario Adolescents
Abstract
Given that physical activity is essential for optimal health, it is important to identify behaviours that may contribute to low levels of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between gambling and physical activity among adolescents in Ontario using data from the 2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS). Multivariable generalized ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the association between past-year gambling (status and modality) and past-week physical activity among a representative sample of Grade 7-12 students, while adjusting for covariates. We also tested for multiplicative effect measure modification by sex. Neither gambling status nor modality was associated with physical activity and no evidence of effect measure modification of either association by sex was found. While these behaviours may not be associated, gambling and inadequate physical activity nonetheless represent important public health concerns for adolescents.