Machado-Rodrigues Aristides M, Rodrigues Daniela, Gama Augusta, Nogueira Helena, Silva Maria-Raquel G, Mascarenhas Luis P, Padez Cristina
Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal -
Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Minerva Pediatr (Torino). 2021 Dec 3. doi: 10.23736/S2724-5276.21.06584-8.
Sedentary behaviours, even at an early age, are associated with potential health risks such as obesity, some cardio metabolic risk factors, poorer mental health, and lower levels physical fitness. The aim of this study was twofold: i) to compare objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity (PA) levels in its different intensity portions between boys and girls; ii) to analyse associations among the risk of overweight and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in pre-school children.
The present cross-sectional study comprised a sample of 134 children (70 males) aged 3-5 years. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. A tri-axial accelerometer was used to obtain seven consecutive days of MVPA, as well as the weekly time being sedentary. The t-test was used to analyse the effect of the sex on body size, sedentary behaviour, and PA levels; furthermore, logistic regression analysis was used to examine the afore-mentioned relationship among the risk of obesity and MVPA, controlling for sex, age, and sedentary behaviour.
About 16.0% of the sample is overweight or obese (boys 12.2%, girls 20.0%). Boys spent significantly more minutes/day in the moderate-to-vigorous portion of PA than their female counterparts on the week days (boys: 90.9±21.8 min/day; girls: 77.6±21.7 min/day) and in the total measured days (boys: 89.5±20.4 min/day; girls: 77.7±21.6 min/day). MVPA was inversely associated with the risk of being overweight in pre-school children after adjustment for potential confounders; children with higher levels of MVPA have less likely to be classified as overweight and/or obese than less active children (95% CI 0.96 to 0.99, p<0.05).
Findings of this study revealed males significantly more active than females. Objectively measured MVPA was independent and inversely associated with increased risk of overweight in pre-school children. Future interventions for improving weight health in paediatrics should enhance MVPA at early ages.
久坐行为，即使在幼年时期，也与肥胖、一些心血管代谢风险因素、较差的心理健康状况以及较低的身体素质等潜在健康风险相关。本研究的目的有两个：i）比较客观测量的男孩和女孩在不同强度部分的久坐时间和身体活动（PA）水平；ii）分析学龄前儿童超重风险与中等到剧烈身体活动（MVPA）之间的关联。
本横断面研究包括134名3至5岁儿童（70名男性）的样本。测量身高和体重，并计算体重指数（BMI）。使用三轴加速度计获取连续七天的MVPA以及每周的久坐时间。采用t检验分析性别对身体尺寸、久坐行为和PA水平的影响；此外，使用逻辑回归分析来检验肥胖风险与MVPA之间的上述关系，并控制性别、年龄和久坐行为。
约16.0%的样本超重或肥胖（男孩12.2%，女孩20.0%）。在工作日，男孩在PA的中等到剧烈部分每天花费的时间显著多于女孩（男孩：90.9±21.8分钟/天；女孩：77.6±21.7分钟/天），在整个测量期间也是如此（男孩：89.5±20.4分钟/天；女孩：77.7±21.6分钟/天）。在调整潜在混杂因素后，MVPA与学龄前儿童超重风险呈负相关；MVPA水平较高的儿童比活动较少的儿童被归类为超重和 / 或肥胖的可能性更小（95%置信区间0.96至0.99，p<0.05）。
本研究结果显示男性比女性明显更活跃。客观测量的MVPA与学龄前儿童超重风险增加独立且呈负相关。未来改善儿科体重健康的干预措施应在早期提高MVPA水平。
