Is device-measured vigorous physical activity associated with health-related outcomes in children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to analyze the prospective association between vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) and health-related outcomes in children and adolescents.

METHODS

Studies reporting associations between device-measured VPA and health-related factors in children and adolescents aged 3-18 years were identified through database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SPORTDiscus). Correlation coefficients were pooled if outcomes were reported by at least 3 studies, using DerSimonian-Laird random effects models.

RESULTS

Data from 23 studies including 13,674 participants were pooled using random effects models. Significant associations were found between VPA at baseline and overall adiposity (r = -0.09, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): -0.15 to -0.03; p = 0.002; I = 89.8%), cardiometabolic risk score (r = -0.13, 95%CI: -0.24 to -0.02, p = 0.020; I = 69.6%), cardiorespiratory fitness (r = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.15-0.35; p < 0.001; I = 57.2%), and total body bone mineral density (r = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.06 to 0.25; p = 0.001; I = 0%).

CONCLUSION

VPA seems to be negatively related to adiposity and cardiometabolic risk score and positively related to cardiorespiratory fitness and total body bone mineral density among children and adolescents at follow-up. Therefore, our findings support the need to strengthen physical activity recommendations regarding VPA due to its health benefits in children and adolescents.