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Moderate‐To‐vigorous physical activity is associated with decreases in body mass index from ages 9 to 15 years
Author(s) -
Mitchell J. A.,
Pate R. R.,
EspañaRomero V.,
O'Neill J. R.,
Dowda M.,
Nader P. R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.20118
Subject(s) - percentile , body mass index , medicine , demography , physical activity , obesity , quantile regression , longitudinal study , gerontology , physical therapy , statistics , mathematics , pathology , sociology
Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether time spent in objectively measured physical activity is associated with change in body mass index (BMI) from ages 9 to 15. Design and Methods: The participants were enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development ( n = 938). At ages 9, 11, 12, and 15 the time spent in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was objectively measured, and BMI was calculated (kg/m 2 ). Longitudinal quantile regression was used to analyze the data. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th BMI percentiles were modeled as the dependent variables with age and MVPA (h/day) modeled as predictors. Adjustment was also made for gender, race, sleep, healthy eating score, maternal education, and sedentary behavior. Results: A negative association between MVPA and change in BMI was observed at the 90th BMI percentile (−3.57, 95% CI −5.15 to −1.99 kg/m 2 per hour of MVPA). The negative association between time spent in MVPA and change in BMI was progressively weaker toward the 10th BMI percentile (−0.27, 95% CI −0.62 to 0.07 kg/m 2 per hour of MVPA). The associations remained similar after adjusting for the covariates, and when the analyses were stratified by gender. Conclusion: Time spent in MVPA was negatively associated with change in BMI from age 9 to 15. The association was strongest at the upper tail of the BMI distribution, and increasing time spent in MVPA could help reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity.