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Physical activity patterns in children with and without Down syndrome
Melicia C Whitt-Glover1, Kristen L O'Neill, Nicolas Stettler
1Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA. mwhitt@wfubmc.edu
Insights
Children with Down syndrome (DS) engage in less vigorous physical activity (VPA) and have higher BMI than siblings. Promoting VPA is key for preventing obesity and promoting lifelong health in children with DS.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Down syndrome (DS) is associated with increased risk of childhood obesity.
- Physical activity (PA) is crucial for maintaining healthy weight and overall well-being in children.
- Understanding PA patterns in children with DS is essential for targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare physical activity (PA) patterns between children with Down syndrome (DS) and their unaffected siblings.
- To identify differences in moderate- (MPA) and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) between the two groups.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of children with DS (n=28) and their siblings (n=30) aged 3-10 years participated.
- Physical activity was objectively measured over 7 days using accelerometers.
- Data were analyzed comparing PA levels, bout duration, and intensity between groups, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Children with DS had higher BMI and were younger than their siblings.
- Both groups met general PA recommendations, but children with DS accumulated significantly less VPA (49.5 vs. 68.6 min/day) and in shorter bouts (2.5 vs. 5.1 min/bout).
- No significant differences were observed in moderate-intensity PA or low-intensity PA between groups.
Conclusions:
- Children with DS exhibit lower levels of vigorous physical activity (VPA) and sustained VPA compared to their siblings.
- Higher BMI in children with DS highlights the need for targeted strategies to increase VPA.
- Enhancing VPA participation in children with DS may be a critical strategy for obesity prevention and promoting long-term health.
Purpose:
To describe physical activity (PA) patterns in children with Down syndrome (DS) compared to their unaffected siblings.
Methods:
Children with DS (n = 28) and their siblings (n = 30), between 3-10-years (mean +/- SD 7.1 +/- 2.1 years) participated in a nutrition and growth study. PA was measured over 7 days using accelerometers.
Results:
Children with DS were younger (6.6 vs. 7.1 years) and heavier (BMI 18.4 vs. 16.7 kg m(-2)) than their siblings (p < 0.05). Overall, participants accumulated 2.5 hours per day in moderate- (MPA) and 59 min per day in vigorous-intensity activity (VPA), consistent with the current PA recommendations for children. Children with DS accumulated less VPA than their siblings (49.5 vs. 68.6 minutes per day; p = 0.04) and for shorter bouts (2.5 vs. 5.1 minutes per bout; p < 0.01), but spent similar time in MPA and low-intensity PA. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, income, maternal education and BMI showed similar results.
Conclusions:
Children with DS participated in less total and sustained VPA and had higher BMI levels compared with their siblings. Because children with DS have a tendency toward childhood obesity, increasing participation in VPA may be appropriate for prevention of obesity and promotion of lifelong health.
