Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
06:51

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

Published on: July 27, 2022

2.2K

No differences in physical activity between children with overweight and children of normal-weight

Janneke van Leeuwen1, Bart W Koes2, Winifred D Paulis3

  • 1Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, P.O. Box 2040, 3000, CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.vanleeuwen.2@erasmusmc.nl.

BMC Pediatrics
|September 10, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Overweight children spend less time sedentary but similar moderate-to-vigorous physical activity compared to normal-weight peers. Self-reported activity levels showed no significant differences between groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Sports Science

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Understanding physical activity patterns in normal-weight versus overweight children is crucial.
  • Objective and self-reported measures offer different insights into physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare objectively measured physical activity between overweight and normal-weight children.
  • To compare self-reported physical activity between overweight and normal-weight children.
  • To identify discrepancies between objective and self-reported physical activity in children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study in the Netherlands.
  • Inclusion of children aged 4-15 years, categorized by weight status.
  • Objective physical activity measurement using accelerometers and subjective via diaries for one week.

Main Results:

  • Overweight children spent significantly less time sedentary (p<0.05).
  • No significant differences in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were observed between groups.
  • Self-reported physical activity did not differ significantly between normal-weight and overweight children.

Conclusions:

  • Objectively, overweight children are not less physically active than normal-weight children.
  • Increased awareness and interventions may contribute to these findings.
  • Discrepancies between objective and self-reported measures warrant further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenOverweightPhysical activity

More Related Videos

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.6K
Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption08:45

Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption

Published on: June 20, 2025

356

Related Concept Videos

One-Way ANOVA: Equal Sample Sizes01:15

One-Way ANOVA: Equal Sample Sizes

One-Way ANOVA can be performed on three or more samples with equal or unequal sample sizes. When one-way ANOVA is performed on two datasets with samples of equal sizes, it can be easily observed that the computed F statistic is highly sensitive to the sample mean.
Different sample means can result in different values for the variance estimate: variance between samples. This is because the variance between samples is calculated as the product of the sample size and the variance between the...
3.9K
Exercise and Cardiac Output01:17

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
1.7K
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
127
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
21.9K
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.0K
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
1.1K