The Risk of Pediatric Overweight and Children’s Objectively Measured Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity by Area of Residence

TL;DR

This study finds that urban children are less physically active and more sedentary than non-urban children, increasing their risk of being overweight.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how urbanization affects children's physical activity and sedentary behavior in relation to overweight risk.

Findings

Urban children had lower MVPA (48 min/day) compared to non-urban children (51 min/day).

Urban children spent more time on sedentary behaviors, especially on weekends.

MVPA was significantly linked to lower overweight risk for both urban and non-urban children on weekends.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Research considering objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) and health outcomes among urban children has produced equivocal findings. Therefore, this study was designed (i) to compare MVPA and SB of urban and non-urban children and (ii) to analyze associations between the risk of overweight and MVPA of children by their degree of urbanization. Methods: The sample comprised 389 children (195 girls) aged 6 to 10 years. Measurements for height and weight were taken, followed by the calculation of body mass index (BMI). A motion sensor was employed to gather data on MVPA and SB for 7 days. Urban regions were characterized as areas with a population density exceeding 500 inhabitants per square kilometer or having a total population greater than 50,000. ANOVAs, partial correlations, and logistic regression analysis were used, controlling for potential confounders. Results: After controlling for wearing time and sex, urban children were significantly less active (lower MVPA) than non-urban peers [i.e., urban: 48 min/day vs. 51 min/day (non-urban)]. On the other hand, urban children spent significantly more time on SB than their non-urban counterparts on the weekend and during all assessed days. MVPA was significantly associated with the risk of being overweight at the weekend for both urban and non-urban children. Inspection of the final regression model indicated that urban children who engaged in sedentary behavior for extended periods were at a higher risk of being categorized as overweight. Conclusions: Findings revealed the association between MVPA and the risk of overweight on weekdays was just significant for urban children. The location where a child lives significantly influences their weight status, and therefore, community-based programs [at schools (PE and recess) and after-school (organized sports)] should be developed that encourage active lifestyles tailored to urban environments.