1. Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Weight Status, and Body Composition among South African Primary Schoolchildren.
- Author
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Gerber M, Lang C, Beckmann J, du Randt R, Long KZ, Müller I, Nienaber M, Probst-Hensch N, Steinmann P, Pühse U, Utzinger J, Nqweniso S, and Walter C
- Subjects
- Accelerometry, Body Composition, Body Mass Index, Body Weight, Child, Exercise physiology, Female, Humans, Male, Overweight epidemiology, South Africa epidemiology, Pediatric Obesity epidemiology, Sedentary Behavior
- Abstract
Background: Over the past decades, childhood overweight has increased in many African countries. We examined the relationship between sedentary behaviour, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body composition in South African primary schoolchildren living in peri-urban settings. Methods: MVPA was measured via 7-day accelerometry and body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis in 1090 learners (49.2% girls, M
age = 8.3 ± 1.4 years). The relationships between MVPA and sedentary behaviour with the various body composition indicators (body fat and fat-free mass [total, truncal, arms, and legs], bone mass, muscle mass, and body water) were tested with mixed linear regressions. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 9.8% and 6.6%, respectively; 77.1% of the children engaged in ≥60 min of MVPA/day. Girls were more likely to be overweight/obese, to accumulate less than 60 min of MVPA/day, and had significantly higher relative body fat than boys ( p s < 0.001). Lower MVPA was associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight/obese, higher relative body fat, and lower relative fat-free mass, bone mass, muscle mass, and body water ( p s < 0.001). For lower sedentary behaviour, the associations with body composition pointed in the opposite direction. Conclusions: In this South African setting, girls are a particularly relevant target group for future physical activity interventions to prevent overweight/obesity-related non-communicable diseases in later life.- Published
- 2022
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