Accelerometry-Measured Activity or Sedentary Time and Overweight in Rural Boys and Girls

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between overweight and physical activity or sedentary time measured by accelerometry in rural boys and girls 7 to 19 years old. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 130 girls and 99 boys in el...

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Published in:Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2005-09, Vol.13 (9), p.1606-1614
Main Authors: Treuth, Margarita S, Hou, Ningqi, Young, Deborah R, Maynard, L. Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
accelerometer
Adolescent
Age Factors
body composition
Body Composition - physiology
body fat
Body Weight - physiology
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise - physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Overweight - physiology
physical activity assessment
Rural Population
sedentary behavior
Sex Factors
Statistics, Nonparametric
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Summary:OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between overweight and physical activity or sedentary time measured by accelerometry in rural boys and girls 7 to 19 years old. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 130 girls and 99 boys in elementary, middle, and high school in rural Maryland. After weight, height, and body composition were measured, children wore an Actiwatch accelerometer for 6 days. Comparisons for activity counts were made between normal and overweight or at risk for overweight (at-risk/overweight) participants ([>/=]85th percentile of BMI). The associations between body composition and accelerometry-defined activity levels (sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous) were analyzed by age group for boys and girls. RESULTS: Differences in total activity in counts per day or counts per minute were not observed between normal and at-risk/overweight boys or girls in all age groups. No associations between measures of body composition and time spent in an activity level were seen in boys. Fat mass and percentage fat were positively correlated to time spent in sedentary activity (range r = 0.42 to 0.54, all p < 0.01) for girls. In contrast, fat mass and percentage fat were negatively related to time spent in light activity (range, r = -0.40 to -0.51, p < 0.05) for girls. DISCUSSION: In girls, but not boys, greater body fat is associated with greater time spent being inactive, and lower levels of body fat are associated with more time spent in light activity. Physical activity interventions targeting inactive children in rural communities are warranted.
ISSN:1071-7323
1930-7381
1550-8528
1930-739X
DOI:10.1038/oby.2005.197