Next Article in Journal / Special Issue
Childhood Obesity: A Role for Gut Microbiota?
Previous Article in Journal
Suicide Risks among Adolescents and Young Adults in Rural China
Previous Article in Special Issue
Overweight and Obesity in Portuguese Children: Prevalence and Correlates
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 12
Issue 1
10.3390/ijerph120100146
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Daily Physical Activity and Screen Time, but Not Other Sedentary Activities, Are Associated with Measures of Obesity during Childhood

by
Shoo Thien Lee
1,
Jyh Eiin Wong
1,
Safii Nik Shanita
1,
Mohd Noor Ismail
2,
Paul Deurenberg
3 and
Bee Koon Poh
1,4,*
1
School of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2
School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
3
Nutrition Consultant, Telaga Harbour Park, Lot 1, 07000 Langkawi, Malaysia
4
National Coordinator (Malaysia), the SEANUTS Study Group, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(1), 146-161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100146
Submission received: 31 October 2014 / Accepted: 15 December 2014 / Published: 23 December 2014
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Childhood Obesity: Novel Approaches to a Global Problem)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Childhood obesity is related to low physical activity level and a sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity level and sedentary behaviour of Malaysian children aged 7 to 12 years and to examine their association with body mass index (BMI), BMI-for-age Z-score (BAZ), body fatness (%BF) and waist circumference (WC). A total of 1736 children, representing all ethnic groups were recruited from six regions of Malaysia. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height and waist circumference. Body fat percentage (%BF) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Physical activity was assessed by a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) in all children and by pedometers in a subsample (n = 514). PAQ score and pedometer step counts were negatively associated with BMI, BAZ, %BF and WC after adjusting for covariates. Screen time was positively associated with BAZ and WC. However, other sedentary activities were not significantly related with any anthropometric indicators. Strategies to promote active living among children in Malaysia should focus not only on increasing physical activity but also emphasise reduction in sedentary behaviours.
Keywords: anthropometric indicators; body fat; body mass index; physical activity; screen time; sedentary behaviour; waist circumference anthropometric indicators; body fat; body mass index; physical activity; screen time; sedentary behaviour; waist circumference

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Lee, S.T.; Wong, J.E.; Shanita, S.N.; Ismail, M.N.; Deurenberg, P.; Poh, B.K. Daily Physical Activity and Screen Time, but Not Other Sedentary Activities, Are Associated with Measures of Obesity during Childhood. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 146-161. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100146

AMA Style

Lee ST, Wong JE, Shanita SN, Ismail MN, Deurenberg P, Poh BK. Daily Physical Activity and Screen Time, but Not Other Sedentary Activities, Are Associated with Measures of Obesity during Childhood. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 12(1):146-161. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100146

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lee, Shoo Thien, Jyh Eiin Wong, Safii Nik Shanita, Mohd Noor Ismail, Paul Deurenberg, and Bee Koon Poh. 2015. "Daily Physical Activity and Screen Time, but Not Other Sedentary Activities, Are Associated with Measures of Obesity during Childhood" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 1: 146-161. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100146

APA Style

Lee, S. T., Wong, J. E., Shanita, S. N., Ismail, M. N., Deurenberg, P., & Poh, B. K. (2015). Daily Physical Activity and Screen Time, but Not Other Sedentary Activities, Are Associated with Measures of Obesity during Childhood. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(1), 146-161. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100146

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop