Weimann Alma, Vogel Mandy, Poulain Tanja, Kiess Wieland
Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, LIFE Child, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Department of Women and Child Health, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
BMC Public Health. 2025 May 7;25(1):1680. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22867-1.
Physical inactivity, especially in the context of the worldwide childhood obesity epidemic, is still a growing public health concern. Moreover, both physical inactivity and overweight often become ingrained and subsequently persist into adulthood. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate how weight status, sex, age, sedentary behavior, pubertal status and socioeconomic status influence physical activity levels in children and adolescents.
This study utilized accelerometer data (SenseWear Pro 2, Bodymedia) to explore correlations between the outcome variable physical activity levels and the predictor variables weight status, sex, age, sedentary behavior, pubertal status and socioeconomic status. We analyzed 847 observations from 397 children and adolescents between the ages of 5.9 and 17.9 years, employing linear mixed-effect regression models. Roughly 55% of participants were categorized as overweight, 45% normal- or underweight.
A mere 18% of the cohort met the World Health Organization`s activity recommendations for 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day on weekdays. Specifically, children classified as overweight/obese participated less frequently in MVPA compared with their normal or lower weight peers. Children 14 years of age or younger with overweight or obesity were 30 min less active per day on weekends (p < 0.001). Furthermore, girls were less active than boys. This effect was most pronounced on weekends for those between the ages of 14 and 17.9, when girls engaged in 21 fewer min of MVPA (p = 0.013). Across all participants, every year older corresponded to a weekly decrease in MVPA of approximately 47 min (p < 0.001). Additionally, MVPA levels declined significantly with advancing pubertal stage, with postpubertal adolescents accumulating 4.1 h less MVPA than their prepubertal peers (p < 0.001). Low socioeconomic status was associated with an 18-minute reduction in MVPA (p = 0.016) on weekends, but only in boys.
These findings demonstrate a significant association between physical activity levels and the examined predictors, highlighting the importance of addressing multiple factors to enhance physical activity engagement. The results underscore the need for a multifaceted, targeted approach at enhancing physical activity levels and improving child health, curbing the ongoing prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and subsequent adulthood.
缺乏体育活动，尤其是在全球儿童肥胖流行的背景下，仍然是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。此外，缺乏体育活动和超重往往会根深蒂固，并持续到成年期。因此，本研究的主要目的是调查体重状况、性别、年龄、久坐行为、青春期状态和社会经济地位如何影响儿童和青少年的身体活动水平。
本研究利用加速度计数据（SenseWear Pro 2，Bodymedia）来探讨身体活动水平这一结果变量与体重状况、性别、年龄、久坐行为、青春期状态和社会经济地位这些预测变量之间的相关性。我们分析了397名年龄在5.9岁至17.9岁之间的儿童和青少年的847份观察数据，采用线性混合效应回归模型。大约55%的参与者被归类为超重，45%为正常体重或体重不足。
该队列中只有18%的人达到了世界卫生组织关于工作日每天进行60分钟中等至剧烈身体活动（MVPA）的建议。具体而言，与体重正常或较低的同龄人相比，被归类为超重/肥胖的儿童参与MVPA的频率较低。14岁及以下超重或肥胖的儿童在周末每天的活动量少30分钟（p<0.001）。此外，女孩比男孩活动量少。这种影响在14岁至1（此处有误，应为17.9）岁的人群中周末最为明显，此时女孩的MVPA时间少21分钟（p = 0.013）。在所有参与者中，年龄每增加一岁，每周的MVPA减少约47分钟（p<0.001）。此外，MVPA水平随着青春期的推进而显著下降，青春期后的青少年比青春期前的同龄人积累的MVPA少4.1小时（p<0.001）。低社会经济地位与周末MVPA减少18分钟相关（p = 0.016），但仅在男孩中如此。
这些发现表明身体活动水平与所研究的预测因素之间存在显著关联，突出了应对多个因素以提高身体活动参与度的重要性。结果强调需要采取多方面、有针对性的方法来提高身体活动水平和改善儿童健康，遏制儿童期及随后成年期超重和肥胖的持续流行。
