Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Longitudinal patterns in objective physical activity and sedentary time in a multi-ethnic sample of children from the
1The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
Insights
Children of South Asian ethnicity in London showed a significant increase in sedentary time over 12 months. This longitudinal study highlights ethnic differences in physical activity changes among UK children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Children of South Asian descent in the UK exhibit lower physical activity than British Caucasians.
- Limited longitudinal data exists on physical activity changes in diverse UK child populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine 1-year changes in physical activity levels within a diverse ethnic sample of London-based children.
- To identify ethnic variations in the progression of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Main Methods:
- Objective physical activity monitoring using Actigraph accelerometers for at least one day at baseline and 1-year follow-up.
- Categorization of children into distinct ethnic groups: Caucasian/mixed, Black, and South Asian.
- Application of mixed-effects models to analyze ethnic differences in activity level changes.
Main Results:
- South Asian children demonstrated a significantly greater increase in sedentary time (ratio sedentary/wear time = 0.024) compared to Caucasian/mixed children.
- South Asian children had lower baseline moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (-6.5 min/day).
- While MVPA remained stable over the year, changes did not significantly differ across ethnic groups.
Conclusions:
- Children of South Asian ethnicity in inner-city London experienced a notable increase in sedentary time over 12 months.
- This increase in sedentary behavior was significantly higher compared to Caucasian/mixed and Black children.
- Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address sedentary behavior trends in specific ethnic groups.
Background:
Children of South Asian decent born in the UK display lower levels of physical activity than British Caucasians although no longitudinal data are available.
Objectives:
We aimed to investigate change in activity levels over 1 year in a diverse ethnic sample of children residing in London, UK.
Methods:
Children were categorized into ethnic groups (Caucasian/mixed, Black, South Asian). At baseline and 1-year follow-up, children's objective physical activity was monitored (Actigraph accelerometer) for at least 1 day. Mixed models were employed to investigate differences in change in activity levels between ethnic groups.
Results:
A total of 281 children were included in the analyses. South Asians had a significantly greater increase in time spent sedentary at follow-up than those of a Caucasian/mixed ethnicity (B [ratio sedentary/wear time] = 0.024; 95% confidence interval 0.003, 0.046). South Asian children recorded lower moderate to vigorous physical activity at baseline (B = -6.5, 95% confidence interval, -11.1, -1.9 min d-1 , p = 0.006) although levels remained relatively stable over follow-up and changes did not differ across ethnic group.
Conclusions:
In a diverse ethnic sample of children from inner city London, those of a South Asian ethnicity exhibited a significantly greater increase in sedentary time over a period of 12 months in comparison with Caucasian/mixed and Black children.
More Related Videos
07:22Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes
Published on: March 7, 2025
06:18Qualitative and Comparative Cortical Activity Data Analyses from a Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Experiment Applying Block Design
Published on: December 3, 2020