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Joint association of physical activity/screen time and diet on CVD risk factors in 10-year-old children
Clemens Drenowatz1, Joseph J Carlson, Karin A Pfeiffer
1Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. drenowat@msu.edu
Insights
Childhood obesity increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study found no direct link between physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), or diet and CVD risk factors in children, but higher PA correlated with better diet and lower ST.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
- Lifestyle Behaviors
Background:
- Childhood overweight and obesity are rising, increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Previous research focused on single behaviors; combined effects of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (screen time - ST), and diet on pediatric CVD risk are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined association of physical activity (PA) or screen time (ST) and diet quality with CVD risk factors in children.
- To assess the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and objective CVD risk indicators in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessed physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and dietary intake in 210 fifth-grade students.
- Diet quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk was measured using % body fat, lipid profiles (Total Cholesterol:HDL ratio), and mean arterial pressure (MAP).
Main Results:
- A significant majority of children failed to meet PA recommendations (55%) or exceeded ST guidelines (70%).
- Only 2.5% of children had a "good" diet (HEI > 80).
- No significant correlations were found between PA, ST, or diet and individual CVD risk factors (TC:HDL, MAP, % body fat) or a composite CVD risk score.
Conclusions:
- Individual lifestyle behaviors (PA, ST, diet) were not directly associated with CVD risk factors in this cohort of children.
- Children with higher physical activity levels demonstrated healthier dietary patterns and lower screen time, suggesting an overall healthier lifestyle in this subgroup.
- Further research is needed to understand complex interactions influencing pediatric CVD risk.
Abstract:
The increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While several studies examined the effect of single behaviors such as physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior or diet on CVD risk, there is a lack of research on combined associations, specifically in children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the joint association of PA or screen time (ST) and diet on CVD risk factors in children. PA, STand diet were assessed via questionnaire in 210 fifth grade students (age: 10.6 ± 0.4 years). The healthy eating index (HEI) was subsequently calculated as indicator for diet quality. Height, weight, % body fat, and resting blood pressure were measured according to standard procedures and blood samples obtained via fingerprick were assayed for blood lipids. Total cholesterol HDL ratio (TC:HDL), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and % body fat were used as indicators of CVD risk. 55% of children did not meet current PA recommendations on at least 5 days/week and 70% exceeded current recommendations for ST. Further, only 2.5% possessed a "good" diet (HEI> 80). There was no significant association of PA or STand diet on CVD risk score. Neither TC:HDL, MAP, and % body fat nor the total CVD risk score was significantly correlated with diet, PA, or ST. Children in the high PA group, however, had significantly better diet scores. Despite the fact that self-reported PA, ST, or dietary intake were not directly related to CVD risk in this sample, higher activity levels were associated with a healthier diet and lower ST indicating an overall healthier lifestyle of this subgroup.
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