Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Apr;43(4):744-750.
doi: 10.1038/s41366-018-0188-9. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Non-linear longitudinal associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and adiposity across the adiposity distribution during childhood and adolescence: Gateshead Millennium Study

Xanne Janssen  1 , Laura Basterfield  2   3 , Kathryn N Parkinson  2   3 , Mark S Pearce  2 , Jessica K Reilly  2   3 , Ashley J Adamson  2   3 , John J Reilly  4
Affiliations

Non-linear longitudinal associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and adiposity across the adiposity distribution during childhood and adolescence: Gateshead Millennium Study

Xanne Janssen et al. Int J Obes (Lond). 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Insufficient moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is harmful for youth; however, the evidence for differential effects by weight status is limited. The study aimed to examine associations between MVPA and adiposity by weight status across childhood and adolescence.

Methods: Participants were from the Gateshead Millennium Study. Physical activity and body composition measures were taken at age 7 y (n = 502; measures taken between October 2006 and December 2007), 9 y (n = 506; October 2008-September 2009), 12 y (n = 420; October 2011-September 2012), and 15 y (n = 306; September 2014-September 2015). Participants wore an ActiGraph GT1M and epochs were classified as MVPA when accelerometer counts were ≥574 counts/15 s. Weight and height were measured using standardized methods and fat mass using bioelectrical impedance. Associations between MVPA and changes in BMI and FMI were examined by weight status using quantile regression.

Results: Higher MVPA was associated with lower FMI for the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile and lower BMI at the 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile, independent of accelerometer wear time, sex, and sedentary time. The association between MVPA and change in adiposity was stronger in the higher than lower FMI and BMI percentiles (e.g., 1 h/day more MVPA was associated with a 1.5 kg/m2 and 2.7 kg/m2 lower FMI at the 50th and 90th FMI percentiles, respectively).

Conclusions: The effect of MVPA on adiposity in the higher adiposity percentiles is stronger than reported to date. Given overweight and obese children are the highest risk group for later obesity, targeting MVPA might be a particularly effective obesity prevention strategy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Quantile regression association between MVPA and FMI and BMI. The plots are based on model 3 which controlled for sedentary time and sex. The dotted line represents the linear regression coefficient for the change in FMI and BMI per hour MVPA
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Cooper AR, Goodman A, Page AS, Sherar LB, Esliger DW, van Sluijs MF, et al. Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in youth: the International children’s accelerometry database (ICAD) Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015;12:113. doi: 10.1186/s12966-015-0274-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Farooq Mohammed Abdulaziz, Parkinson Kathryn N, Adamson Ashley J, Pearce Mark S, Reilly Jessica K, Hughes Adrienne R, Janssen Xanne, Basterfield Laura, Reilly John J. Timing of the decline in physical activity in childhood and adolescence: Gateshead Millennium Cohort Study. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017;52(15):1002–1006. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096933. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ng M, Fleming T, Robinson M, Thomson B, Graetz N, Margono C, et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2014;384:766–81. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Poitras VJ, Gray CE, Borghese MM, Carson V, Chaput J, Janssen I, et al. Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016;41:S197–239. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0663. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Henderson M, Benedetti A, Barnett TA, Mathieu ME, Deladoëy J, Gray-Donald K. Influence of adiposity, physical activity, fitness, and screen time on insulin dynamics over 2 years in children. JAMA Pediatr. 2016;170:227–35. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.3909. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types