Top

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Associations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and body fatness in school-aged children

Authors: Aleš Gába, Josef Mitáš, Lukáš Jakubec

Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

The main aim of the study was to examine the cross-sectional associations between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and body fatness in 7–12-year-old children.

Methods

We performed an analysis of 365 children (209 girls). Participant recruitment was performed in eight randomly selected elementary schools in cities and towns with various numbers of inhabitants. The body composition analysis was performed according to a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis; PA was monitored using an accelerometer.

Results

In terms of the overall PA, boys were more active than girls. No significant associations (unadjusted and adjusted models) were found between light PA and all body fatness indicators in either sex. Moderate-to-vigorous PA was significantly negatively associated with all body fatness indicators only in girls. These associations strengthened after adjustment for age, height and sedentary time (β ranging from –0.49 to –0.36, P ≤ 0.01). In contrast, vigorous PA was strongly negatively associated with body fatness indicators only in boys. In the fully adjusted model the significant negative associations were found for fat mass percentage (β = –0.15, P = 0.048) and fat mass index (β = –0.15, P = 0.040).

Conclusions

The present study suggests that increasing sex-specific PA of different intensities may be an appropriate approach for decreasing body fatness in children. Longitudinal studies are needed to verify these associations.

World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight, Fact sheet no. 311 (January). http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

Stamatakis E, Wardle J, Cole TJ. Childhood obesity and overweight prevalence trends in England: evidence for growing socioeconomic disparities. Int J Obes. 2010;34:41–7. doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.217.CrossRef

Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. JAMA. 2014;311:806–14. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.732.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Swinburn BA, Sacks G, Hall KD, McPherson K, Finegood DT, Moodie ML, et al. The global obesity pandemic: shaped by global drivers and local environments. Lancet. 2011;378:804–14. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60813-1.CrossRefPubMed

Lobstein T, Jackson-Leach R. Planning for the worst: estimates of obesity and comorbidities in school-age children in 2025. Pediatr Obes. 2016;11:321–5. doi:10.1111/ijpo.12185.CrossRefPubMed

Ng M, Fleming T, Robinson M, Thomson B, Graetz N, Margono C, et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2014;384:766–81. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Kunešová M, Vignerová J, Pařízková J, Procházka B, Braunerová R, Riedlová J, et al. Long-term changes in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Czech 7-year-old children: evaluation of different cut-off criteria of childhood obesity. Obes Rev. 2011;12:483–91. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00870.x.CrossRefPubMed

Vignerová J, Humeníková L, Paulová M, Riedlová J. Prevalence of overweight, obesity and low weight in the Czech child population up to 18 years of age in the last 50 years. J Public Health. 2008;16:413–20. doi:10.1007/s10389-008-0193-x.CrossRef

Sigmundová D, Sigmund E, Hamřík Z, Kalman M. Trends of overweight and obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Czech schoolchildren: HBSC study. Eur J Public Health. 2014;24:210–5. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckt085.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Reilly JJ, Kelly J. Long-term impact of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence on morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood: systematic review. Int J Obes. 2011;35:891–8.CrossRef

11.

Gába A, Dygrýn J, Mitáš J, Jakubec L, Frömel K. Effect of accelerometer cut-off points on the recommended level of physical activity for obesity prevention in children. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0164282. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0164282.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

12.

Waters E, de Silva-Sanigorski A, Hall BJ, Brown T, Campbell KJ, Gao Y, et al. Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011; CD001871. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001871.pub3.

13.

World Health Organization. Global recommendations on physical activity for health [brochure]. http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_recommendations/en/. Accessed 24 March 2016.

14.

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical activity guidelines for Americans be active, healthy, and happy! [brochure]. http://health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/. Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

15.

Department of Health and Ageing. Make your move – Sit less – Be active for life! (Children) [brochure]. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines. Accessed 24 Mar 2016.

16.

Tremblay MS, Warburton DE, Janssen I, Paterson DH, Latimer AE, Rhodes RE, et al. New Canadian physical activity guidelines. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011;36:36–46. doi:10.1139/H11-009.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Hallal PC, Andersen LB, Bull FC, Guthold R, Haskell W, Ekelund U. Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. Lancet. 2012;380:247–57. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60646-1.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Nader PR, Bradley RH, Houts RM, McRitchie SL, O’Brien M. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from ages 9 to 15 years. JAMA. 2008;300:295–305. doi:10.1001/jama.300.3.295.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Masse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:181–8. doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31815a51b3.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Jiménez-Pavón D, Kelly J, Reilly JJ. Associations between objectively measured habitual physical activity and adiposity in children and adolescents: Systematic review. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2010;5:3–18. doi:10.3109/17477160903067601.CrossRefPubMed

21.

Ramires VV, Dumith SC, Goncalves H. Longitudinal association between physical activity and body fat during adolescence: a systematic review. J Phys Act Health. 2015;12:1344–58. doi:10.1123/jpah.2014-0222.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Katzmarzyk PT, Shen W, Baxter-Jones A, Bell JD, Butte NF, Demerath EW, et al. Adiposity in children and adolescents: correlates and clinical consequences of fat stored in specific body depots. Pediatr Obes. 2012;7:e42–61. doi:10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00073.x.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Treuth MS, Hou N, Young DR, Maynard LM. Accelerometry-measured activity or sedentary time and overweight in rural boys and girls. Obes Res. 2005;13:1606–14. doi:10.1038/oby.2005.197.CrossRefPubMed

24.

Ness AR, Leary SD, Mattocks C, Blair SN, Reilly JJ, Wells J, et al. Objectively measured physical activity and fat mass in a large cohort of children. PLoS Med. 2007;4:e97. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040097.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

25.

Ramires VV, Dumith SC, Wehrmeister FC, Hallal PC, Menezes AMB, Gonçalves H. Physical activity throughout adolescence and body composition at 18 years: 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2016;13:105. doi:10.1186/s12966-016-0430-6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

26.

Rowlands AV, Eston RG, Powell SM. Total physical activity, activity intensity and body fat in 8-11-year-old boys and girls. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2006;4:96–102.

27.

Riddoch CJ, Leary SD, Ness AR, Blair SN, Deere K, Mattocks C, et al. Prospective associations between objective measures of physical activity and fat mass in 12-14 year old children: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). BMJ. 2009;339:b4544. doi:10.1136/bmj.b4544.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

28.

Chaput JP, Lambert M, Mathieu ME, Tremblay MS, O’ Loughlin J, Tremblay A. Physical activity vs. sedentary time: independent associations with adiposity in children. Pediatr Obes. 2012;7:251–8. doi:10.1111/j.2047-6310.2011.00028.x.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Lim JS, Hwang JS, Lee JA, Kim DH, Park KD, Jeong JS, et al. Cross-calibration of multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis with eight-point tactile electrodes and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for assessment of body composition in healthy children aged 6–18 years. Pediatr Int. 2009;51:263–8. doi:10.1111/j.1442-200X.2008.02698.x.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Cole TJ, Flegal KM, Nicholls D, Jackson AA. Body mass index cut offs to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. BMJ. 2007;335:194. doi:10.1136/bmj.39238.399444.55.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

31.

Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000;320:1240–3. doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

32.

de Vries SI, Bakker I, Hopman-Rock M, Hirasing RA, van Mechelen W. Clinimetric review of motion sensors in children and adolescents. J Clin Epidemiol. 2006;59:670–80. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2005.11.020.CrossRefPubMed

33.

Evenson KR, Catellier DJ, Gill K, Ondrak KS, McMurray RG. Calibration of two objective measures of physical activity for children. J Sports Sci. 2008;26:1557–65. doi:10.1080/02640410802334196.CrossRefPubMed

34.

Saelens BE, Seeley RJ, van Schaick K, Donnelly LF, O’Brien KJ. Visceral abdominal fat is correlated with whole-body fat and physical activity among 8-y-old children at risk of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85:46–53.PubMedPubMedCentral

35.

Ekelund U, Sardinha LB, Anderssen SA, Harro M, Franks PW, Brage S, et al. Associations between objectively assessed physical activity and indicators of body fatness in 9- to 10-y-old European children: a population-based study from 4 distinct regions in Europe (the European Youth Heart Study). Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80:584–90.PubMed

36.

Laguna M, Ruiz JR, Lara MT, Aznar S. Recommended levels of physical activity to avoid adiposity in Spanish children. Pediatr Obes. 2013;8:62–9. doi:10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00086.x.CrossRefPubMed

37.

Dencker M, Thorsson O, Karlsson MK, Lindén C, Eiberg S, Wollmer P, et al. Daily physical activity related to body fat in children aged 8–11 years. J Pediatr. 2006;149:38–42. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.02.002.CrossRefPubMed

38.

McCarthy HD, Cole TJ, Fry T, Jebb SA, Prentice AM. Body fat reference curves for children. Int J Obes. 2006;30:598–602. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803232.CrossRef

39.

Cain KL, Sallis JF, Conway TL, Van Dyck D, Calhoon L. Using accelerometers in youth physical activity studies: a review of methods. J Phys Act Health. 2013;10:437–50.CrossRefPubMed

40.

Edwardson CL, Gorely T. Epoch length and its effect on physical activity intensity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42:928–34. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181c301f5.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Toftager M, Kristensen PL, Oliver M, Duncan S, Christiansen LB, Boyle E, et al. Accelerometer data reduction in adolescents: effects on sample retention and bias. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013;10:140. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-10-140.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

42.

Rowlands AV, Pilgrim EL, Eston RG. Patterns of habitual activity across weekdays and weekend days in 9–11-year-old children. Prev Med. 2008;46:317–24. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.11.004.CrossRefPubMed

43.

Fairclough SJ, Boddy LM, Mackintosh KA, Valencia-Peris A, Ramirez-Rico E. Weekday and weekend sedentary time and physical activity in differentially active children. J Sci Med Sport. 2015;18:444–9. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.06.005.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Associations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and body fatness in school-aged children
Authors: Aleš Gába
Josef Mitáš
Lukáš Jakubec
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1342-078X
Electronic ISSN: 1347-4715
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-017-0629-4

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Associations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and body fatness in school-aged children

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Genetic analysis of RNF213 p.R4810K variant in non-moyamoya intracranial artery stenosis/occlusion disease in a Chinese population

Personal perspective on Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

Comparison between air pollution concentrations measured at the nearest monitoring station to the delivery hospital and those measured at stations nearest the residential postal code regions of pregnant women in Fukuoka

Decreased blood pressure associated with in-vehicle exposure to carbon monoxide in Korean volunteers

Alteration in plasma free amino acid levels and its association with gout

Association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and ego structure of the Nanai people