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Replacing sedentary time with physical activity reduces adiposity
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Replacing sedentary time with moderate physical activity may be effective in reducing waist circumference and BMI in younger children, whereas vigorous physical activity may be required in adolescents, according to researchers from Norway.
Knut Eirik Dalene, MSc, of the department of sports medicine at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, and colleagues evaluated data from the Physical Activity Among Norwegian Children Study on 970 children aged 6 years, 2,423 children aged 9 years and 1,544 adolescents aged 15 years in 2005-2006; participants aged 9 years in 2005-2006 were followed until 2011-2012. Researchers sought to determine the associations between different intensities of physical activity, BMI and waist circumference. Physical activity intensities were categorized as light, moderate or vigorous.
Compared with the 9-year-old and 15-year-old groups, the 6-year-old group spent less time sedentary and more time in physical activity (P < .001), and the 9-year-old group spent less time sedentary and more time active compared with 15-year-old group (P < .001).
Higher BMI was associated with substituting sedentary time with light physical activity in the 6-year-old (P .012) and 9-year-old groups (P < .001). Lower BMI was associated with substituting sedentary with moderate physical activity in 6-year-old girls and the 9-year-old group, but not in 6-year-old boys or the 15-year-old group. Lower BMI was also associated with substituting sedentary time with vigorous physical activity in the 9- and 15-year-old groups.
Higher waist circumference was associated with substituting sedentary time with light physical activity in 6-year-old girls and in the 9- and 15-year-old groups, but not in 6-year-old boys. Lower waist circumference was associated with substituting sedentary time with moderate physical activity in 6-year-old girls and the 9-year-old group; there was no association in the other groups. Lower waist circumference was associated with substituting sedentary time with vigorous physical activity in the 9- and 15-year-old groups.
“This study suggests that isotemporal substitution of [sedentary time] with [moderate physical activity] and [vigorous physical activity] is favorably associated with BMI and [waist circumference] in children,” the researchers wrote. “In adolescents, favorable associations were only observed when [sedentary time] was substituted with [vigorous physical activity]. However, because these cross-sectional associations were not replicated in prospective analyses, we are unable to determine the direction of associations.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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