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

Shoo Thien Lee¹  Jyh Eiin Wong¹  Safii Nik Shanita¹  Mohd Noor Ismail³  Paul Deurenberg²  Bee Koon Poh¹ 

[1] School of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; E-Mails:;Nutrition Consultant, Telaga Harbour Park, Lot 1, 07000 Langkawi, Malaysia; E-Mail:;School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; E-Mail:

关键词: anthropometric indicators;    body fat;    body mass index;    physical activity;    screen time;    sedentary behaviour;    waist circumference;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120100146

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.