Physical activity and electronic media use in the SEARCH for diabetes in youth case-control study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the physical activity (PA) and electronic media (EM) use habits of a population-based, ascertained sample of youths with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: For this investigation, the Search for Diabetes in Youth Case-Control study (age: 10-20 y; 55% female) recruited 384 youths with provider-diagnosed type 1 DM, 90 youths with type 2 DM, and 173 healthy control subjects between 2003 and 2006, in 2 US centers. PA and EM use were assessed with a 3-day recall of activities, in 30-minute time blocks. Adherence to current recommendations was determined as a report of > or = 2 blocks of moderate/vigorous PA per day and <4 blocks of EM use per day. Differences in PA and EM use for DM/control groups were assessed with adjustment for age, study site, and race/ethnicity.

Results: Male subjects with type 2 DM reported lower levels of vigorous PA than did control subjects (1.1 vs 2.3 blocks; P < .05). Compliance with the moderate/vigorous PA recommendation among youths with type 2 DM was lower (68.3%), compared with youths with type 1 DM (81.7%; odds ratio: 0.51 [95% confidence interval: 0.26-1.00]; P = .047) and control subjects (80.4%; odds ratio: 0.48 [95% confidence interval: 0.23-1.02]; P = .05). Rates of compliance with EM use recommendations ranged from 29.5% to 49.1%.

Conclusion: In this study, large proportions of youths with DM, especially type 2 DM, failed to meet PA and EM use recommendations.

FIGURE 1

Mean ± SD blocks of VPA and EM use per day among SEARCH-CC study participants with type 1 DM and control subjects, according to weight status categories. Overweight youths and youths with type 2 DM were excluded. Estimates were adjusted according to age, site, gender, and race/ethnicity.

FIGURE 2

Compliance with the MVPA standard, according to race/ethnicity, among SEARCH-CC study participants with type 1 (T1) or type 2 (T2) DM and control subjects (C), with adjustment for age, site, and gender. ^a Significant (P < .05) difference between black and Hispanic youths. ^b Significant (P < .05) difference between black and non-Hispanic white youths. ^c Significant (P < .05) difference between youths with type 1 DM and control subjects in the Hispanic group. d Significant (P < .05) difference between youths with type 2 DM and control subjects in the black group.