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Objectively measured daily physical activity related to aerobic fitness in young children
Magnus Dencker1, Anna Bugge, Bianca Hermansen
1Department of Clinical Physiology, Malmo University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden. magnus.dencker@skane.se
Insights
Physical activity and aerobic fitness (peak oxygen uptake) show a weak link in young children. Relationships were clearer in boys than girls, with most daily activity positively related to fitness in boys.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Cardiorespiratory Fitness Research
- Childhood Physical Activity Studies
Background:
- Limited data exist on the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in young children.
- Understanding this link is crucial for promoting healthy development and preventing chronic diseases.
- Previous studies in older populations suggest a positive association, but findings in younger children are less consistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional relationship between accelerometer-measured physical activity and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in a population-based cohort of young children.
- To determine if this relationship differs between boys and girls.
- To quantify the variance in VO2peak explained by different physical activity metrics.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 468 children (6.7 ± 0.4 years) participated.
- Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured using indirect calorimetry during a maximal treadmill test.
- Physical activity was assessed over 4 days using accelerometers, calculating sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity durations and mean counts per minute.
Main Results:
- Weak correlations were found between daily physical activity variables and VO2peak in boys (r = 0.15–0.28), excluding sedentary and light activity.
- No significant relationships were observed between most physical activity variables and VO2peak in girls, except for a very weak association with moderate activity (r = 0.14).
- Physical activity variables explained only 2–8% of the variance in VO2peak in boys.
Conclusions:
- Most daily physical activity variables were positively associated with aerobic fitness in boys.
- Relationships between physical activity and aerobic fitness were less clear in girls.
- Findings suggest sex-specific associations between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in young children, partially contradicting studies in older age groups.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate by direct measurement the cross-sectional relationship between accelerometer-measured physical activity and peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak): ml x min(-1) x kg(-1)), in a population-based cohort of young children, since such data are scarce. The study included 468 children (246 boys, 222 girls) aged 6.7 + or - 0.4 years, recruited from a population-based cohort. Peak oxygen uptake was measured by indirect calorimetry during a maximal treadmill exercise test. Physical activity was assessed by accelerometers over a 4-day period. Minutes of sedentary, light, moderate, moderate-to-vigorous, and vigorous activity per day were calculated. Mean counts per minute were considered to reflect total physical activity. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated a weak relationship between daily physical activity variables and VO(2peak) in boys (r = 0.15-0.28, P < 0.05), with the exception of time in sedentary and light activity, which was not related to VO(2peak). None of the daily physical activity variables were related to VO(2peak) in girls, with the exception of a very weak relationship for moderate activity (r = 0.14, P < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses indicated that the various physical activity variables explained between 2 and 8% of the variance in VO(2peak) in boys. In this population-based cohort, most daily activity variables were positively related to aerobic fitness in boys, whereas less clear relationships were observed in girls. Our finding that physical activity was only uniformly related to aerobic fitness in boys partly contradicts previous studies in older children and adolescents.
