Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity
Author Information
Author(s): Andy R Ness, Sam D Leary, Calum Mattocks, Steven N Blair, John J Reilly, Jonathan Wells, Sue Ingle, Kate Tilling, George Davey Smith, Chris Riddoch
Primary Institution: University of Bristol
Hypothesis
Is there an association between physical activity and obesity in children?
Conclusion
Higher intensity physical activity is more important than total activity in reducing obesity in children.
Supporting Evidence
- The study involved 5,500 children, providing a large sample size.
- Physical activity was measured using accurate accelerometers.
- The study found a strong negative association between MVPA and fat mass.
- The association was stronger in boys than in girls.
Takeaway
The more kids move, especially in a strong way, the less likely they are to be overweight.
Methodology
Cross-sectional analysis using accelerometers to measure physical activity and DXA scans to measure fat mass.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors may influence the observed associations.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, which limits causal inferences, and relies on a single measure of activity.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 12 years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.01–0.13 for boys; 95% CI 0.17–0.74 for girls
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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