Daily physical activity related to body fat in children aged 8-11 years. The Bunkeflo Study.

M. Dencker, O. Thorsson, M.K. Karlsson, C. Lindén, J. Svensson, P. Wollmer, L.B Andersen.

In press: J Pediatr feb 2006.

Lack of physical activity is associated with childhood obesity, but previous studies have produced diverging results. This study evaluates the association between objectively measured daily physical activity and body fat.

Cross-sectional study of 248 children, aged 7.9-11.1 years. Truncal fat mass and total body fat mass were measured by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. Daily physical activity was assessed by accelerometers for four days.

 

Total body fat expressed as a percentage of body weight was inversely related to physical activity, for all children r=-0.38 (p<0.05). Children, both boys and girls, in the highest quartile of body fat performed on average 12 minutes less vigorous activity per day compared with their counterparts in the lowest quartile.

 

Multiple regression analysis revealed that independent factors for body fat were number of minutes of vigorous activity per day and gender.  

Conclusion. Low physical activity can be a contributing factor in childhood obesity. Only longitudinal studies, however, can give more definitive information about the relation between daily physical activity and obesity.