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Objectively measured physical activity and body mass index in preschool children
Susana Maria Coelho Guimarães Vale1, Rute Marina Roberto Santos, Luísa Maria da Cruz Soares-Miranda
1Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, Porto University, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.
Insights
Vigorous physical activity (PA) is crucial for preventing obesity in preschoolers. Lower levels of vigorous PA were linked to a higher risk of being overweight or obese in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Childhood Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding the role of physical activity in early life is essential for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) in preschool-aged children.
- To identify specific PA intensity levels associated with overweight/obesity in this age group.
Main Methods:
- 281 preschool children (4-6 years) participated.
- Physical activity was objectively measured using accelerometers.
- Children were classified as non-overweight (NOW) or overweight/obese (OW) based on sex-adjusted BMI z-scores.
Main Results:
- No association was found between total or moderate-intensity PA and BMI.
- A higher percentage of overweight/obese children exhibited low-vigorous PA compared to non-overweight peers.
- Low-vigorous PA significantly increased the odds of being overweight/obese (OR=4.4, P=.008) after adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Vigorous physical activity appears critical in the early development of obesity in preschool children.
- Interventions promoting vigorous PA may be effective in preventing childhood obesity.
- Further research should focus on the impact of different PA intensities on long-term weight status.
Abstract:
Aim. To examine the association between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) in preschool children. Methods. The study comprised 281 children (55.9% boys) aged from 4 to 6 years. PA was measured by accelerometer. Children were categorized as non-overweight (NOW) and overweight/obese (OW) according to the sex-adjusted BMI z-score (<1 and >/=1, resp.). Results. Total and moderate intensity PA were not associated with BMI. We observed that a higher proportion of OW children were classified as low-vigorous PA compared to their NOW peers (43.9 versus 32.1%, resp., P > .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that children with low-vigorous PA had higher odds ratio (OR) to be classified as OW compared to those with high-vigorous PA (OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.4-13.4; P = .008) after adjusting for BMI at first and second years of life and other potential confounders. Conclusion. The data suggests that vigorous PA may play a key role in the obesity development already at pre-school age.
