Differences of daily physical activity levels of children according to body mass index

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2002

Authors

mota, j (Author) FADEUP; santos, p (Author) Other; guerra, s (Author) Other; ribeiro, jc (Author) FADEUP; duarte, ja (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Pediatric Exercise Science

Vol. 14

Pages: 442-452

ISSN: 0899-8493

Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 26 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-MM6

Abstract (EN): The purpose of this study was to compare the daily activity levels of children varying in body mass over 3 consecutive weekdays. The sample was comprised of 157 children (boys, n = 64; girls, n = 93), aged 8-15 years. BMI was used as obesity indicator. Children were categorized as non-obese and overweight/obese group, according to the age-adapted value. The CSA activity monitor was used as an objective measure of daily physical activity. No significant differences were reported in the daily physical activity among boys and girls according to BMI group. Boys were significantly more engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (p = .05) than girls. Significant differences in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (p = .05) were found between non-obese (69.3 min . day(-1)) and obese girls (50.7 min . day(-1)), while no significant differences were reported in boys. Differences between overall activities and involvement in MVPA emerged between overweight/obese and non-obese girls; therefore, obesity in girls may be linked to low levels of physical activity behavior.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11