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. 2020 Sep 9;20(1):431.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02327-y.

No differences in physical activity between children with overweight and children of normal-weight

Janneke van Leeuwen  1 , Bart W Koes  2 , Winifred D Paulis  3 , Patrick J E Bindels  2 , Marienke van Middelkoop  2
Affiliations

No differences in physical activity between children with overweight and children of normal-weight

Janneke van Leeuwen et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in objectively measured physical activity and in self-reported physical activity between overweight and normal-weight children.

Methods: Data from a prospective cohort study including children, presenting at the participating general practices in the south-west of the Netherlands, were used. Children (aged 4-15 years) were categorized as normal-weight or overweight using age- and sex specific cut-off points. They wore an ActiGraph accelerometer for one week to register physical activity, and filled out a diary for one week about physical activity.

Results: A total of 57 children were included in this study. Overweight children spent significantly less percentage time per day in sedentary behavior (β - 1.68 (95%CI -3.129, - 0.07)). There were no significant differences in percentage time per day spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (β 0.33 (- 0.11, 0.78)). No significant differences were found between children of normal-weight and overweight in self-reported measures of physical activity.

Conclusions: Overweight children are not less physically active than normal-weight children, which may be associated with the risen awareness towards overweight/obesity and with implemented interventions for children with overweight/obesity.

Keywords: Children; Overweight; Physical activity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Time per day spent in each level of physical activity for the total study population, normal-weight children and children of overweight
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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