Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Physical activity level among children recovering from severe acute malnutrition
Esther Babirekere-Iriso1,2, Maren Johanne Heilskov Rytter2, Hanifa Namusoke1
1Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Insights
Physical activity levels were low at discharge for children recovering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Improved weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), MUAC, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) predicted higher activity, while longer hospital stays predicted lower activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a critical global health issue affecting children.
- Nutritional rehabilitation is key, but post-treatment recovery, including physical activity, needs further understanding.
- Assessing physical activity post-SAM can offer insights into recovery status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the level of physical activity in children at hospital discharge after treatment for SAM.
- To identify predictors of physical activity at discharge among these children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 69 children (6-59 months) with SAM was conducted in Uganda.
- Physical activity was measured using hip-mounted triaxial accelerometers (counts per minute).
- Clinical data, nutritional status (WHZ, MUAC), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels, and hospitalization duration were assessed as potential predictors using multiple linear regression.
Main Results:
- Children exhibited low physical activity levels at discharge (mean 285 cpm).
- Higher weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and admission whole-blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were associated with increased physical activity.
- Longer duration to transition phase and longer hospitalization were negatively associated with physical activity.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity at discharge among children treated for SAM is generally low.
- Nutritional status indicators (WHZ, MUAC) and DHA levels are positive predictors of physical activity.
- Hospitalization duration negatively impacts physical activity, suggesting physical activity assessment could serve as a recovery marker.
Objective:
To assess the level and predictors of physical activity at discharge among children recovering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Methods:
We conducted a prospective study among 69 children 6-59 months of age admitted with SAM for nutritional rehabilitation at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda. Using hip-mounted triaxial accelerometers, we measured physical activity expressed as counts per minute (cpm) during the last three days of hospital treatment. As potential predictors, we assessed clinical and background characteristics, duration to transition phase and duration of hospitalisation, serum C-reactive protein and whole-blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of physical activity.
Results:
The median (IQR) age was 15.5 (12.6; 20.5) months. At discharge, the mean (SD) movement was 285 (126) cpm. Physical activity was 43 (19; 67) cpm higher for each unit increase in weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) and 72 (36; 108) cpm higher for each centimetre increase in MUAC. Whole-blood DHA on admission was also a positive predictor of physical activity, whereas duration to transition phase and duration of hospitalisation were both negative predictors.
Conclusion:
The level of physical activity at discharge among children treated for SAM was low. WHZ, MUAC and DHA on admission were positive predictors of physical activity, whereas duration of stabilisation and hospitalisation was negative predictors of physical activity. These results suggest that assessment of physical activity may be used as a marker of recovery.
