Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Is the Canadian childhood obesity epidemic related to physical inactivity?
1College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. mark.tremblay@usask.ca
Objective:
This study examined the relation among children's physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and body mass index (BMI), while controlling for sex, family structure, and socioeconomic status.
Design:
Epidemiological study examining the relations among physical activity participation, sedentary behaviour (video game use and television (TV)/video watching), and BMI on a nationally representative sample of Canadian children.
Subjects:
A representative sample of Canadian children aged 7-11 (N=7216) from the 1994 National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth was used in the analysis.
Measurements:
Physical activity and sport participation, sedentary behaviour (video game use and TV/video watching), and BMI measured by parental report.
Results:
Both organized and unorganized sport and physical activity are negatively associated with being overweight (10-24% reduced risk) or obese (23-43% reduced risk), while TV watching and video game use are risk factors for being overweight (17-44% increased risk) or obese (10-61% increased risk). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour partially account for the association of high socioeconomic status and two-parent family structure with the likelihood of being overweight or obese.
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence supporting the link between physical inactivity and obesity of Canadian children.
Related Concept Videos
Obesity
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Nature and Nurture
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Cause and Effect
