scholarly journals “Obese Equals Lazy?” Analysis of the Association between Weight Status and Physical Activity in Children

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Kreuser ◽  
K. Kromeyer-Hauschild ◽  
A. Gollhofer ◽  
U. Korsten-Reck ◽  
K. Röttger
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
Spare Time ◽  
Qualitative Measurements ◽  
Generalized Statement

Introduction. Literature provides evidence that overweight children are more sedentary. To verify this generalized statement behavior patterns of overweight and nonoverweight children needs to be understood. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of sedentary and activity levels in a quantitative and qualitative way.Methods. Data was collected from 37 randomly selected nonoverweight and 55 overweight children. They were 8 to 11 years of age. Height and weight were measured and weight status was characterized by BMI (BMI-percentile, BMI-SDS). Daily PA (physical activity) was measured by direct accelerometry. Spare time and screen time entertainment were obtained by questionnaires.Results. The amount of time spent “passive” was significantly higher in overweight children, while nonoverweight children were more “active.” The multiple regression model shows a significant association between weight status (BMI-SDS) and activity parameters. Additionally, screen time entertainment was significantly related to BMI-SDS.Conclusion. The results support the statement that overweight children are less active than nonoverweight children. The high amount of PA seems to be an important factor to prevent overweight in children given that PA shows the highest correlation to weight status. Quantitative and qualitative measurements are needed for further analysis.

scholarly journals Like father, like son. Physical Activity, Dietary Intake, and Media Consumption in Pre-School-Aged Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja Frate ◽  
Brigitte Jenull ◽  
Robert Birnbacher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Media Consumption ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Level Of Activity

An imbalance between energy input and energy needs contributes to the growing incidence of overweight children. Pre-schoolers normally like to move, but even at this young age, they are already affected by a lack of physical activity and a high amount of screen time. Media consumption contributes to unhealthy diets and extends the length of time spent sitting. Longer periods of sitting are, independent of the level of activity, seen as a risk factor for the development of obesity. In the present study, 160 pre-schoolers and their parents (128 mothers, 121 fathers) were examined. The results show deviations from actual recommendations regarding physical activity, time spent sitting, dietary intake, and media consumption. Increased screen time was associated with a higher weight status among pre-school-aged children. To provide a healthy upbringing, prevention and intervention measures should be implemented on a behavioral and relational level.

Overweight children and adolescents referred for weight management: are they meeting lifestyle behaviour recommendations?

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 936-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff D.C. Ball ◽  
Julie M. Lenk ◽  
Bobbi N. Barbarich ◽  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽  
Graham J. Fishburne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviour ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviours

Adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours can help overweight boys and girls manage their weight and reduce obesity-related health risks. However, we currently know very little about the lifestyle habits of overweight children and adolescents referred for weight management in Canada and whether or not they are meeting current lifestyle recommendations. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the demographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviours of overweight children and adolescents referred for clinical weight management, and (ii) to examine sex (boys vs. girls) and (or) age (child vs. youth) differences with respect to the achievement of lifestyle behaviour recommendations. Overweight (age- and sex-specific body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) children (n = 27 girls, n = 24 boys) and adolescents (n = 29 girls, n = 19 boys) were referred to and enrolled in weight-management programs at the Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health (PCWH) at the Stollery Children’s Hospital (Edmonton, Alta.) from January 2006–September 2007. Information was collected at intake regarding demography, anthropometry, and lifestyle behaviours before participants started a formal weight-management program. Lifestyle behaviour recommendations for nutrition, physical activity, screen time, and sleep were used to determine whether participants were meeting established guidelines. Overall, participants presented with poor lifestyle behaviours. Although most consumed adequate servings of grain products (93.9%) and meat and alternatives (68.7%), few met the serving recommendations for milk and alternatives (31.3%) or vegetables and fruit (14.1%). Physical activity levels were low – 7.4% and 4.1% achieved the recommended time and steps per day goals, respectively. Approximately 1/4 (22.7%) met the screen time recommendation, whereas fewer than 1/2 (47.4%) achieved the nightly sleep duration goal. Sex and age-group comparisons revealed subtle, but potentially important, differences in lifestyle behaviours that have implications for pediatric weight management. This study highlights the sub-optimal lifestyle behaviours of overweight children and adolescents referred for weight management. Intervention studies are needed to determine whether overweight boys and girls who achieve the lifestyle behaviour targets included in this study are able to successfully manage their weight and (or) reduce obesity-related health risks.

Accelerometer Response to Physical Activity Intensity in Normal-Weight Versus Overweight African American Children

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Arvidsson ◽  
Mark Fitch ◽  
Mark L. Hudes ◽  
Catrine Tudor-Locke ◽  
Sharon E. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
African American ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
African American Children ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
Physical Activity Intensity ◽  
Activity Intensity ◽  
American Children

Background:Different movement efficiency in overweight children may affect accelerometer output data. The purpose was to investigate the ability of accelerometers to assess physical activity intensity and number of steps in normal-weight compared with overweight children.Methods:Eleven normal-weight and 14 overweight African American children walked at 2, 4, 5, and 6 km/h on a treadmill wearing Lifecorder, ActiGraph, RT3, and Biotrainer. Oxygen uptake was measured and steps manually counted. Fat free mass (FFM) was assessed from bioelectrical impedance analysis. Accelerometer counts and the individual linear regression lines of accelerometer counts versus VO2/FFM were evaluated, together with steps recorded by Lifecorder and Actigraph.Results:Correlations between accelerometer counts and VO2/FFM for all monitors were r ≥ .95 (P < .01). The accelerometer counts and their relationship to VO2/FFM did not generally differ significantly by body weight status. Lifecorder and Actigraph underestimated steps at 4, 5, and 6 km/h by less than 9%, but the error was up to −95% at 2 km/h.Conclusions:All 4 accelerometers show high ability to assess physical activity intensity, and can be used to compare physical activity between normal-weight and overweight children. The Lifecorder and the ActiGraph showed high accuracy in assessing steps, providing speed of movement exceeded 2 km/h.

scholarly journals Population-Based Estimates of Physical Activity for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cautionary Tale of Potential Confounding by Weight Status

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽  
Steven T. Johnson ◽  
Constantinos A. Loucaides ◽  
Adrian E. Bauman ◽  
Nandini D. Karunamuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

At a population level, the method used to determine those meeting physical activity guidelines has important implications, as estimating “sufficient” physical activity might be confounded by weight status. The objective of this study was to test the difference between three methods in estimating the prevalence of “sufficient activity” among Canadian adults with type 2 diabetes in a large population sample (N=1614) while considering the role of weight status as a potential confounder. Our results revealed that estimates of physical activity levels vary by BMI categories, depending on the methods examined. Although physical activity levels were lower in the obese, their energy expenditure estimates were not different from those who were overweight or of a healthy weight. The implications of these findings are that biased estimates of physical activity at a population level may result in inappropriate classification of adults with type 2 diabetes as “sufficiently active” and that the inclusion of body weight in estimating physical activity prevalence should be approached with caution.

scholarly journals Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns in Taiwanese Adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yi Wang ◽  
Yu-Ling Hsieh ◽  
Ming-Chun Hsueh ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Yung Liao
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
After School ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
School Time ◽  
Sedentary Bouts

Levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents seem to vary within different settings, but few Asian studies have compared physical activity and sedentary activity patterns in adolescents across weekdays/weekends and during-school time/after-school time. This study aimed to provide objectively measured data describing intensity-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in Taiwanese adolescents. The results were sorted by gender and divided between weekdays/weekends and during-school time/after-school time. A total of 470 Taiwanese students (49.6% boys, ages 12–15 y) were recruited and fitted with GT3X+ accelerometers for seven days. Intensity-specific physical activity, total sedentary time, and sedentary bouts (number and duration ≥30 min) were measured. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the significant differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns between the genders on weekdays/weekends and during school/after-school time. The results show that the adolescents’ overall activity levels were below recommended thresholds, with girls engaging in significantly less moderate to vigorous physical activity, having longer sedentary time, longer time spent in sedentary bouts, and more frequent sedentary bouts than boys. Similar results were observed in physical activities of each intensity as well as sedentary behavior variables, both on weekdays/weekends and during-school/after-school periods. These findings emphasize the importance of developing and implementing approaches to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity, as well as decrease prolonged sedentary time and long sedentary bouts, especially for Taiwanese girls.

Physical activity during school recess: A missed opportunity to be active?

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 988-999
Author(s):  
Pablo Tercedor ◽  
Víctor Segura-Jiménez ◽  
Manuel Ávila García ◽  
Francisco Javier Huertas-Delgado
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Intensity ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Recommendations ◽  
School Recess ◽  
Activity Recommendations

Objective:The goals of this study were to (1) describe physical activity levels during school recess in 8-year-old children, (2) analyse the percentage of children who achieved physical activity recommendation at recess, and (3) examine if recess physical activity levels varied by gender, weight status, and parental educational level.Methods:In all, 291 children (mean age ±  SD = 8.3 ± 0.3 years, 156 boys) from 7 schools of Granada (Spain) were recruited by convenience. To analyse sedentary time and physical activity levels during recess, children wore a tri-axial accelerometer attached to the wrist over five consecutive school days.Results:Sedentary time (29.6% vs 40%) and light physical activity (33.2% vs 35.5%) were lower in boys than in girls (all p < .001). Conversely, moderate physical activity (26.7% vs 20%), vigorous physical activity (10.5% vs 4.4%) and moderate-vigorous physical activity (37.2% vs 24.4%) were higher in boys than in girls (all p < .001). Only 12% of the children accomplished the moderate-vigorous physical activity recommendations during recess (21.2% boys vs 1.5% girls). Lower body mass index values were associated with higher vigorous physical activity intensity.Conclusions:Levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity during school recess are very low in children, being lower in girls than in boys, a very low percentage of children achieve moderate-vigorous physical activity recommendations during school recess, and girls and overweight/obese children show lower values in moderate-vigorous and vigorous physical activity.

scholarly journals ‘Is It Worth It?’ A Qualitative Study of the Beliefs of Overweight and Obese Physically Active Children

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1219-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiara Lewis ◽  
Claire Fraser ◽  
Martin Manby
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Activity Settings ◽  
Template Analysis ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

Background:The specific circumstances and contexts that may affect overweight and obese children’s participation in physical activity have thus far been given little attention. The qualitative study discussed in this paper explores the experiences of overweight and obese children and young people who have successfully increased their activity levels.Methods:The study sample was recruited from a community health and fitness scheme for children aged 5 to 16, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 91st centile. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 58 children and young people. Data were analyzed using template analysis.Results:The children increased their feelings of capability to undertake physical activity, both while on the scheme and in other physical activity settings. They valued the range of ‘noncompetitive’ activities available and the nonthreatening atmosphere created. The ‘emotional’ support offered by the instructors was perceived as being integral to their enjoyment and continued participation.Conclusions:Physical activity providers need to be able to generate opportunities which allow children of any weight status to participate without fear of stigmatization or bullying. The findings of the current study suggest that to be effective what we should be focusing on is improving the physical activity experience from the child’s perspective.

scholarly journals Reliability and Validity of the System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships During Play (SOCARP)

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola D. Ridgers ◽  
Gareth Stratton ◽  
Thomas L. McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Play Behavior ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Type ◽  
Child Gender

Background:Children frequently engage in diverse activities that are broadly defined as play, but little research has documented children’s activity levels during play and how they are influenced by social contexts. Assessing potentially modifiable conditions that influence play behavior is needed to design optimal physical activity interventions.Methods:System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play (SOCARP) was developed to simultaneously assess children’s physical activity, social group sizes, activity type, and social behavior during play. One hundred and fourteen children (48 boys, 66 girls; 42% overweight) from 8 elementary schools were observed during recess over 24 days, with 12 days videotaped for reliability purposes. Ninety-nine children wore a uni-axial accelerometer during their observation period.Results:Estimated energy expenditure rates from SOCARP observations and mean accelerometer counts were significantly correlated (r = .67; P < .01), and interobserver reliabilities (ie, percentage agreement) for activity level (89%), group size (88%), activity type (90%) and interactions (88%) met acceptable criteria. Both physical activity and social interactions were influenced by group size, activity type, and child gender and body weight status.Conclusions:SOCARP is a valid and reliable observation system for assessing physical activity and play behavior in a recess context.

scholarly journals Active Lockdown: Exploring the effect of Government enforced lockdown on physical activity habits and the corresponding relationship with wellbeing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samuel Warne
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Accelerometer Data ◽  
Spare Time ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Reported Data

Whilst regular physical activity benefits our health, both physically and mentally, many people do not meet recommended activity levels - often because of a lack of enjoyment, motivation or spare time. The current study investigated whether the COVID-19 government-enforced lockdown in the UK in March 2020 (which saw many furloughed from their work and only able to leave the house to exercise or for essentially activities) influenced physical activity habits. An initial survey collected data around physical activity levels (both self-reported and via smart device activity trackers) for the week preceding lockdown and a week during lockdown. It also collected data on mental wellbeing during lockdown. A second survey collected the same measures (plus questions regarding motivations to exercise) once the lockdown restrictions eased and non-essential shops reopened. Analyses indicated that lockdown significantly increased the length of time participants spent engaging in physical activity compared to pre-lockdown levels, though metabolic equivalency and accelerometer data did not see such significant results. There was no statistically significant difference in physical activity levels in the period of eased-lockdown when compared to during-lockdown. Those with the perception of having more spare time during lockdown elicited significant effects in self-reported data, such that those with the perception did greater levels of physical activity than those without. However, when ‘eased lockdown’ data was examined, this was not deemed statistically significant. Correlational analyses examining the relationship between physical activity levels and mental wellbeing showed a significantly weak, positive relationship between self-reported physical activity and mental wellbeing during lockdown. The findings demonstrate that lockdown increased the total time people engaged in physical activity, though the activities were seemingly of low metabolic equivalency. Though when lockdown was eased, these levels did not differ significantly to during lockdown. Results also found that those with spare time during lockdown elicited greater self-reported physical activity levels than previously. The data also supported previous literature outlining the positive relationship between physical activity and wellbeing, despite the extremely negative circumstances that caused the lockdown.

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