Association Between Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Inactivity Among Active Kids
2009

Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Kids

Sample size: 25060 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Scott T. Leatherdale, Suzy Wong

Primary Institution: University of Waterloo

Hypothesis

The relative risk of overweight for adolescents who are highly sedentary and highly physically active is unclear.

Conclusion

Sedentary behavior may moderate the relationship between physical activity and overweight.

Supporting Evidence

  • Boys who were low active-high sedentary were more likely to be overweight than high active-low sedentary boys.
  • Girls who were low active-high sedentary or high active-high sedentary were more likely to be overweight compared to high active-low sedentary girls.
  • Sedentary behavior is an important factor in understanding obesity among youth.

Takeaway

Some kids can be very active but also spend a lot of time sitting. This can make them overweight, so it's important to balance both activities.

Methodology

Data were collected from 25,060 students in grades 9 through 12 using a cross-sectional survey design and self-reported measures.

Potential Biases

Self-reported measures may lead to overreporting of physical activity.

Limitations

The cross-sectional nature of the data prevents causal inferences, and self-reported data may introduce bias.

Participant Demographics

The sample was 51.1% male and 48.9% female, with an average age of 15.5 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 1.01-2.58

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

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