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Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and childhood obesity: a review of cross-sectional studies
Hannah Prentice-Dunn1, Steven Prentice-Dunn
1Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
Abstract:
This systematic review examined the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior to childhood overweight and obesity in cross-sectional studies from the last 10 years. Cross-sectional approaches are cost-effective methods for identifying relationships that can then be followed by longitudinal studies to establish temporality and create targeted interventions. The 17 selected studies contained a variety of measures of PA and sedentary behavior. PA was related negatively to child weight status in some studies; however, it was not associated in others. In general, sedentary behaviors were positively associated with weight status. However, gender differences appeared in some studies for each variable. Limitations of cross-sectional approaches were discussed, as was the need for more accurate measures of PA, sedentary behavior, and body composition.
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