Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2007

Open Access 01-12-2007 | Research article

Patterns in sedentary and exercise behaviors and associations with overweight in 9–14-year-old boys and girls - a cross-sectional study.

Authors: Saskia J te Velde, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Inga Thorsdottir, Mette Rasmussen, Maria Hagströmer, Knut-Inge Klepp, Johannes Brug

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2007

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Before starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed about the prevalence of sedentary behaviors and low physical exercise, their interrelationships, possible gender differences. Therefore this study aimed to describe gender differences in sedentary and physical exercise behaviors and their association with overweight status in children from nine European countries. Additionally, to identify clusters of children sharing the same pattern regarding sedentary and physical exercise behavior and compare these groups regarding overweight status.

Methods

Cross-sectional study among 11-year-old children in nine countries (n = 12538). Self-administered questionnaires assessed the time spent on TV viewing during dinner and during the day, PC use and on physical exercise. The parents reported children's weight and height. Descriptive statistics, cluster analyses, and logistic regression analyses were used for data analyses.

Results

Boys spent more time on sedentary behaviors but also more on physical exercise than girls. High TV viewing and low exercise behavior independently increased the risk of being overweight. Based on the behaviors, five clusters were identified. Among boys, clear associations with being overweight were found, with the most unhealthy behavior pattern having the highest risks of being overweight. Among girls, high TV viewers and high PC users had increased risk of being overweight. In girls sedentary behaviors seemed more important than physical exercise with regard to overweight status.

Conclusion

Despite selective non-response on BMI and reliance on self-reports, the associations between clusters and overweight in boys were clear, and differences between boys and girls regarding the behaviors and risks for overweight are noteworthy. These differences need to be considered when developing tailored intervention strategies for prevention of overweight.
Literature
1.
Lobstein T, Frelut ML: Prevalence of overweight among children in Europe. Obesity Reviews. 2003, 4: 195-200. 10.1046/j.1467-789X.2003.00116.x.CrossRefPubMed
2.
French SA, Story M, Jeffery RW: Environmental influences on eating and physical activity. Annu Rev Public Health. 2001, 22: 309-335. 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.22.1.309.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Crespo CJ, Smit E, Troiano RP, Bartlett SJ, Macera CA, Andersen RE: Television Watching, Energy Intake, and Obesity in US Children: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001, 155: 360-365.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Robinson TN: Reducing Children's Television Viewing to Prevent Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 1999, 282: 1561-1567. 10.1001/jama.282.16.1561.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Stettler N, Signer TM, Suter PM: Electronic Games and Environmental Factors Associated with Childhood Obesity in Switzerland. Obes Res. 2004, 12: 896-903.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Marshall SJ, Biddle SJ, Gorely T, Cameron N, Murdey I: Relationships between media use, body fatness and physical activity in children and youth: a meta-analysis. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004, 28: 1238-1246. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802706.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Biddle SJ, Gorely T, Marshall SJ, Murdey I, Cameron N: Physical activity and sedentary behaviours in youth: issues and controversies. J R Soc Health. 2004, 124: 29-33.CrossRef
8.
Janssen I, Katzmarzyk PT, Boyce WF, Vereecken C, Mulvihill C, Roberts C, Currie C, Pickett W: Comparison of overweight and obesity prevalence in school-aged youth from 34 countries and their relationships with physical activity and dietary patterns. Obesity Reviews. 2005, 6: 123-132. 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00176.x.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Marshall SJ, Biddle SJH, Sallis JF, McKenzie TL, Conway TL: Clustering of sedentary behaviors and physical activity among youth: a cross-national study. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2002, 14: 401-417.
10.
Nelson MC, Gordon-Larsen P, Adair LS, Popkin BM: Adolescent physical activity and sedentary behavior: patterning and long-term maintenance. Am J Prev Med. 2005, 28: 259-266. 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.12.006.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Hulshof KF, Wedel M, Lowik MR, Kok FJ, Kistemaker C, Hermus RJ, ten Hoor F, Ockhuizen T: Clustering of dietary variables and other lifestyle factors (Dutch Nutritional Surveillance System). J Epidemiol Community Health. 1992, 46: 417-424.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Klepp KI, Pérez-Rodrigo C, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Due PP, Elmadfa I, Haraldsdóttir J, König J, Sjöström M, Thórsdóttir I, Vaz de Almeida MD, Yngve A, Brug J: Promoting Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among European Schoolchildren: Rationale, Conceptualization and Design of the Pro Children Project. Ann Nutr Metab. 2005, 49: 212-220. 10.1159/000087245.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Yngve A, Wolf A, Poortvliet E, Elmadfa I, Brug J, Ehrenblad B, Franchini B, Haraldsdóttir J, Krølner R, Maes L, Pérez-Rodrigo C, Sjöström M, Thórsdóttir I, Klepp KI: Fruit and Vegetable Intake in a Sample of 11-Year-Old Children in 9 European Countries: The Pro Children Cross-Sectional Survey. Ann Nutr Metab. 2005, 49: 236-245. 10.1159/000087247.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Wind M, Bobelijn K, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Klepp KI, Brug J: A Qualitative Exploration of Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Intake among 10- and 11-Year-Old Schoolchildren in the Low Countries. Ann Nutr Metab. 2005, 49: 228-235. 10.1159/000087246.CrossRefPubMed
15.
De Bourdeaudhuij I, Klepp KI, Due P, Rodrigo CP, de Almeida M, Wind M, Krolner R, Sandvik C, Brug J: Reliability and validity of a questionnaire to measure personal, social and environmental correlates of fruit and vegetable intake in 10-11-year-old children in five European countries. Public Health Nutr. 2005, 8: 189-200. 10.1079/PHN2004673.PubMed
16.
Haraldsdóttir J, Thórsdóttir I, de Almeida MDV, Maes L, Pérez Rodrigo C, Elmadfa I, Frost Andersen L: Validity and Reproducibility of a Precoded Questionnaire to Assess Fruit and Vegetable Intake in European 11- to 12-Year-Old Schoolchildren. Ann Nutr Metab. 2005, 49: 221-227. 10.1159/000087276.CrossRefPubMed
17.
18.
American Academy of Pediatrics: Children, adolescents, and television. Pediatrics. 2001, 107: 423-426. 10.1542/peds.107.2.423.
19.
Cavill N, Biddle S, Sallis JF: Health enhancing physical activity for young people: Statement of the United Kingdom Expert Consensus Conference. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2001, 13: 12-25.
20.
Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH: Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000, 320: 1240-10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Rasbash J, Steele F, Browne W, Prosser B: A user's guide to MLwiN version 2.0. 2004, , London, Institute of Education.
22.
Manios Y, Yiannakouris N, Papoutsakis C, Moschonis G, Magkos F, Skenderi K, Zampelas A: Behavioral and physiological indices related to BMI in a cohort of primary schoolchildren in Greece. Am J Hum Biol. 2004, 16: 639-647. 10.1002/ajhb.20075.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Currie C, Roberts C, Morgan A, Smith R, Settertobulte W, Samdal O, Rasmussen VB: Young people’s health in context Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study:international report from the 2001/2002 survey. Health Policy for Children and Adolescents. 2004, , WHO
24.
Andersen RE, Crespo CJ, Bartlett SJ, Cheskin LJ, Pratt M: Relationship of Physical Activity and Television Watching With Body Weight and Level of Fatness Among Children: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA. 1998, 279: 938-942. 10.1001/jama.279.12.938.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Kautiainen S, Koivusilta L, Lintonen T, Virtanen SM, Rimpela A: Use of information and communication technology and prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents. 2005, 29: 925-933.
26.
Jago R, Anderson CB, Baranowski T, Watson K: Adolescent Patterns of Physical Activity: Differences by Gender, Day, and Time of Day. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2005, 28: 447-452. 10.1016/j.amepre.2005.02.007.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Riddoch CJ, Bo Andersen L, Wedderkopp N, Harro M, Klasson-Heggebo L, Sardinha LB, Cooper AR, Ekelund U: Physical activity levels and patterns of 9- and 15-yr-old European children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004, 36: 86-92. 10.1249/01.MSS.0000106174.43932.92.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Vilhjalmsson R, Kristjansdottir G: Gender differences in physical activity in older children and adolescents: the central role of organized sport. Social Science & Medicine. 2003, 56: 363-374. 10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00042-4.CrossRef
29.
Myers L, Strikmiller PK, Webber LS, Berenson GS: Physical and sedentary activity in school children grades 5-8: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996, 28: 852-859.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Patrick K, Norman GJ, Calfas KJ, Sallis JF, Zabinski MF, Rupp J, Cella J: Diet, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors as Risk Factors for Overweight in Adolescence. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004, 158: 385-390. 10.1001/archpedi.158.4.385.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Sallis JF, Zakarian JM, Hovell MF, Hofstetter CR: Ethnic, socioeconomic, and sex differences in physical activity among adolescents. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 1996, 49: 125-134. 10.1016/0895-4356(95)00514-5.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Santos MP, Gomes H, Mota J: Physical activity and sedentary behaviors in adolescents. Ann Behav Med. 2005, 30: 21-24. 10.1207/s15324796abm3001_3.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Feldman DE, Barnett T, Shrier I, Rossignol M, Abenhaim L: Is Physical Activity Differentially Associated With Different Types of Sedentary Pursuits?. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003, 157: 797-802. 10.1001/archpedi.157.8.797.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Biddle S, Marshall SJ, Gorely PJ, Cameron N, Murdey I: Sedentary behaviors, body fatness and physical activity in youth: a meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003, 35: S178-10.1097/00005768-200305001-00987.CrossRef
35.
Schmitz KH, Harnack L, Fulton JE, Jacobs DR, Gao S, Lytle LA, Van Coevering P: Reliability and validity of a brief questionnaire to assess television viewing and computer use by middle school children. J Sch Health. 2004, 74: 370-377.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Jansen W, van de Looij-Jansen PM, Ferreira I, de Wilde EJ, Brug J: Differences in measured and self-reported height and weight in Dutch adolescents. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006, 50: 339-346. 10.1159/000094297.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Boutelle K, Fulkerson JA, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M: Mothers' Perceptions of Their Adolescents' Weight Status: Are They Accurate?. Obes Res. 2004, 12: 1754-1757.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Jackson J, Strauss CC, Lee AA, Hunter K: Parents' accuracy in estimating child weight status. Addict Behav. 1990, 15: 65-68. 10.1016/0306-4603(90)90007-K.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Andersen LF, Lillegaard IT, Overby N, Lytle L, Klepp KI, Johansson L: Overweight and obesity among Norwegian schoolchildren: changes from 1993 to 2000. Scand J Public Health. 2005, 33: 99-106.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Patterns in sedentary and exercise behaviors and associations with overweight in 9–14-year-old boys and girls - a cross-sectional study.
Authors
Saskia J te Velde
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
Inga Thorsdottir
Mette Rasmussen
Maria Hagströmer
Knut-Inge Klepp
Johannes Brug
Publication date
01-12-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-7-16

Other articles of this Issue 1/2007

BMC Public Health 1/2007 Go to the issue

Research article

To what extent does IQ 'explain' socio-economic variations in function?

Research article

Anthropometric measures and nutritional status in a healthy elderly population

Research article

Addiction to the nicotine gum in never smokers

Research article

A review of health behaviour theories: how useful are these for developing interventions to promote long-term medication adherence for TB and HIV/AIDS?

Research article

A descriptive study of mastitis in Australian breastfeeding women: incidence and determinants

Research article

Metabolic syndrome in a Taiwanese metropolitan adult population