Moderate‐To‐vigorous physical activity is associated with decreases in body mass index from ages 9 to 15 years12. (16th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mitchell, J. A.; Pate, R. R.; España‐Romero, V.; O'Neill, J. R.; Dowda, M.; Nader, P. R.
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 21:Number 3(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: E280
• Page End: E293
• Publication Date: 2013-04-16
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="abs1-1" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective:</title> <p>The purpose of this study is to determine whether time spent in objectively measured physical activity is associated with change in body mass index (BMI) from ages 9 to 15.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-2" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods:</title> <p>The participants were enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (<italic>n</italic> = 938). At ages 9, 11, 12, and 15 the time spent in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was objectively measured, and BMI was calculated (kg/m<sup>2</sup>). Longitudinal quantile regression was used to analyze the data. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th BMI percentiles were modeled as the dependent variables with age and MVPA (h/day) modeled as predictors. Adjustment was also made for gender, race, sleep, healthy eating score, maternal education, and sedentary behavior.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-3" sec-type="section"> <title>Results:</title> <p>A negative association between MVPA and change in BMI was observed at the 90th BMI percentile (−3.57, 95% CI −5.15 to −1.99 kg/m<sup>2</sup> per hour of MVPA). The negative association between time spent in MVPA and change in BMI was progressively weaker toward the 10th BMI percentile (−0.27, 95% CI −0.62 to 0.07 kg/m<sup>2</sup> per hour of MVPA). The associations remained similar after adjusting for the covariates, and when the analyses were stratified by gender.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-4" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>Time spent in MVPA was negatively associated with change in BMI from age 9 to 15. The association was strongest at the upper tail of the BMI distribution, and increasing time spent in MVPA could help reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity.</p> </sec> </abstract>