Organized Sport Participation Is Associated with Higher Levels of Overall Health-Related Physical Activity in Children (CHAMPS Study-DK)

Jeffrey J Hebert; Niels C Møller; Lars B Andersen; Niels Wedderkopp

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0134621

Organized Sport Participation Is Associated with Higher Levels of Overall Health-Related Physical Activity in Children (CHAMPS Study-DK)

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 11;10(8):e0134621. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134621. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Jeffrey J Hebert¹, Niels C Møller², Lars B Andersen³, Niels Wedderkopp⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.
² Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
³ Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Sport Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Sport medicine Clinic, the Orthopedic Department, Hospital of Middelfart, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark.

Abstract

Introduction: Many children fail to meet international guideline recommendations for health-related activity (≥60 minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]), and intervention studies to date have reported negligible effects.

Objective: Explore the associations of organized leisure-time sport participation with overall physical activity levels and health-related physical activity guideline concordance.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was nested in the Childhood Health, Activity, and Motor Performance School Study Denmark. Study participants were a representative sample of 1124 primary school students. Organized leisure-time sport participation was reported via text messaging and physical activity was objectively measured over seven days with accelerometry. Associations between sport participation and physical activity level were explored with multilevel mixed-effects regression models and reported with beta coefficients (b) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR).

Results: Participants were 53% female, with mean(SD) age = 8.4(1.4) years. Boys were more active than girls (p<0.001), and physical activity levels and guideline concordance decreased with age (p<0.001). Soccer participation at any frequency was associated with greater overall MVPA (b[95% CI] = 0.66[0.20,1.13] to 2.44[1.44,3.44]). Depending on participation frequency, this equates to 5-20 minutes more MVPA on the average day and 3 to 15 fold increased odds of achieving recommended levels of health-related physical activity (aOR[95%CI] = 3.04[1.49,6.19] to 14.49[1.97,106.56]). Similar associations were identified among children playing handball at least twice per week. Relationships with other sports (gymnastics, basketball, volleyball) were inconsistent.

Conclusions: Many children, particularly girls and those in higher grade levels do not adhere to health-related physical activity recommendations. Organized leisure-time sport participation may be a viable strategy to increase overall health-related physical activity levels and international guideline concordance in children.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Cohort Studies
Female
Health Behavior
Health*
Humans
Leisure Activities
Male
Motor Activity*
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors
Sports*
Time Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by The TRYG Foundation, University College Lillebaelt, University of Southern Denmark, The Nordea Foundation, The IMK foundation, The Region of Southern Denmark, The Egmont Foundation, The A.J. Andersen Foundation, The Danish Rheumatism Association, Østifternes Foundation, Brd., Hartmann’s Foundation, TEAM Denmark, The Danish Chiropractor Foundation, and The Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.