Inequality in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep duration and risk of obesity in children: a 12-country study
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Date
2018
Authors
Chaput, J-P.
Barnes, J. D.
Tremblay, M. S.
Fogelholm, M.
Hu, G.
Lambert, E. V.
Maher, C.
Maia, J.
Olds, T.
Onywera, V.O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley Open Access
Abstract
Objective
Studies examining associations between movement behaviours (i.e. physical activity,
sedentary behaviour and sleep duration) and obesity focus on average values of these
movement behaviours, despite important within-country and between-country variability.
A better understanding of movement behaviour inequalities is important for developing
public health policies and behaviour-change interventions. The objective of this ecologic
analysis at the country level was to determine if inequality in movement behaviours is a
better correlate of obesity than average movement behaviour volume in children from
all inhabited continents of the world.
Methods
This multinational, cross-sectional study included 6,128 children 9–11 years of age.
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total sedentary time (SED) and sleep period
time were monitored over 7 consecutive days using waist-worn accelerometry.
Screen time was self-reported. Inequality in movement behaviours was determined using
Gini coefficients (ranging from 0 [complete equality] to 1 [complete inequality]).
Results
The largest inequality in movement behaviours was observed for screen time (Gini of
0.32; medium inequality), followed by MVPA (Gini of 0.21; low inequality), SED (Gini of
0.07; low inequality) and sleep period time (Gini of 0.05; low inequality). Average MVPA
(h d 1) was a better correlate of obesity than MVPA inequality (r = 0.77 vs. r = 0.00,
p = 0.03). Average SED (h d 1) was also a better correlate of obesity than SED inequality
(r = 0.52 vs. r = 0.32, p = 0.05). Differences in associations for screen time and sleep
period time were not statistically significant. MVPA in girls was found to be
disproportionally lower in countries with more MVPA inequality.
Conclusions
Findings from this study show that average MVPA and SED should continue to be used in
population health studies of children as they are better correlates of obesity than inequality
in these behaviours. Moreover, the findings suggest that MVPA inequality could be
greatly reduced through increases in girls’ MVPA alone.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Disparity, Gini coefficient, Movement behaviours, Paediatric population