A Cross-Sectional Study to Measure Physical Activity with Accelerometry in ADHD Children according to Presentations

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 5-7% of school-aged children.
• Few studies compare motor behavior and physical activity in children with and without ADHD.
• This study explores physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in children with ADHD using accelerometry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in children with and without ADHD.
• To investigate age-related differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior within these groups.
• To examine differences across ADHD presentations.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• Inclusion of 75 children aged 6-12 years, with and without ADHD (diagnosed via DSM-5 criteria).
• Objective measurement of physical activity and sedentary behavior using Actigraph GT3X accelerometry.

Main Results:

• Children with ADHD exhibited higher overall physical activity levels compared to controls.
• No significant differences in sedentary time were observed between groups on weekdays or weekends.
• Physical activity decreased with age, particularly moderate-intensity activity in children with ADHD.

Conclusions:

• Sedentary time increases with age in children without ADHD.
• Moderate-intensity physical activity declines with age in children with ADHD.
• Findings highlight distinct age-related activity patterns in children with and without ADHD.