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Volume 16
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10.3390/diagnostics16081162
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Article

Physical Activity Patterns and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

by
Lorena Mihaela Manole
1,
Elena Țarcă
1,2,*,
Elena-Lia Spoială
1,2,
Laura Otilia Boca
1,2,
Mădălina Andreea Donos
1,2,
Gabriela Păduraru
1,2,
Gabriela Ghiga
1,2,
Viorel Țarcă
3,
Alin Constantin Pînzariu
1 and
Laura Mihaela Trandafir
1,2
1
Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
2
Sfânta Maria Emergency Children Hospital, 700309 Iași, Romania
3
Faculty of l Medicine, Apollonia University, 700511 Iași, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Diagnostics 2026, 16(8), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081162
Submission received: 8 March 2026 / Revised: 4 April 2026 / Accepted: 9 April 2026 / Published: 14 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Diseases: From Diagnosis to Management)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing global health challenge associated with early metabolic and cardiovascular complications. This study aims to compare questionnaire-assessed physical activity patterns and lifestyle characteristics among children and adolescents with obesity and normal-weight peers and to explore their associations with clinical measurements and cardiometabolic risk. Assessing resting metabolic rate (RMR) by indirect calorimetry may provide additional insight into metabolic status beyond conventional anthropometric indicators. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 58 children and adolescents aged 5–18 years with obesity and 30 normal-weight controls evaluated in Sfânta Maria Emergency Children’s Hospital Iași, Romania. Clinical data included anthropometric measurements and available biochemical parameters. RMR was assessed through indirect calorimetry (Fitmate Pro, Cosmed, Rome, Italy). Parents completed a structured lifestyle questionnaire adapted from validated international instruments, collecting information on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and wearable device use. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0, applying descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: Children with obesity reported higher body mass index (BMI) (30.48 ± 5.31 kg/m2), higher RMR values, lower physical activity levels and greater sedentary time than controls. RMR correlated positively with BMI, central adiposity, blood pressure, waist-to-height, hepatic steatosis and exercise tolerance. Although electronic devices for monitoring physical activity were more frequently used in the obesity group, this was not associated with higher activity levels. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with obesity exhibited a clustered cardiometabolic risk profile and reduced physical activity. RMR measured by indirect calorimetry may contribute to a more comprehensive metabolic assessment in pediatric obesity.
Keywords: child; adolescent; obesity; physical activity; cardiometabolic risk; wearable devices; sedentary behavior; digital health child; adolescent; obesity; physical activity; cardiometabolic risk; wearable devices; sedentary behavior; digital health

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MDPI and ACS Style

Manole, L.M.; Țarcă, E.; Spoială, E.-L.; Boca, L.O.; Donos, M.A.; Păduraru, G.; Ghiga, G.; Țarcă, V.; Pînzariu, A.C.; Trandafir, L.M. Physical Activity Patterns and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diagnostics 2026, 16, 1162. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081162

AMA Style

Manole LM, Țarcă E, Spoială E-L, Boca LO, Donos MA, Păduraru G, Ghiga G, Țarcă V, Pînzariu AC, Trandafir LM. Physical Activity Patterns and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diagnostics. 2026; 16(8):1162. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081162

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manole, Lorena Mihaela, Elena Țarcă, Elena-Lia Spoială, Laura Otilia Boca, Mădălina Andreea Donos, Gabriela Păduraru, Gabriela Ghiga, Viorel Țarcă, Alin Constantin Pînzariu, and Laura Mihaela Trandafir. 2026. "Physical Activity Patterns and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study" Diagnostics 16, no. 8: 1162. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081162

APA Style

Manole, L. M., Țarcă, E., Spoială, E.-L., Boca, L. O., Donos, M. A., Păduraru, G., Ghiga, G., Țarcă, V., Pînzariu, A. C., & Trandafir, L. M. (2026). Physical Activity Patterns and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diagnostics, 16(8), 1162. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081162

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