Can anthropometry and physical fitness testing explain physical activity levels in children and adolescents with obesity?

Ryan E R Reid; Alicia Fillon; David Thivel; Mélanie Henderson; Tracie A Barnett; Jean-Luc Bigras; Marie-Eve Mathieu

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2019.12.005

Can anthropometry and physical fitness testing explain physical activity levels in children and adolescents with obesity?

J Sci Med Sport. 2020 Jun;23(6):580-585. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.12.005. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Authors

Ryan E R Reid¹, Alicia Fillon², David Thivel², Mélanie Henderson³, Tracie A Barnett⁴, Jean-Luc Bigras⁵, Marie-Eve Mathieu⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Science, Université de Montréal, Canada; Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Canada.
² Metabolic Adaptation to Exercise Under PhyioPathological Condition Laboratory (AME2P), Center for Human Nutrition Research (CRNH Auvergne), Clermont Auvergne University, France.
³ Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Canada.
⁴ Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Canada.
⁵ Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Canada.
⁶ School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Science, Université de Montréal, Canada; Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Canada. Electronic address: me.mathieu@umontreal.ca.

PMID: 31926870
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.12.005

Abstract

Objectives: As time with patients and resources are increasingly limited, it is important to determine if clinical tests can provide further insight into real-world behaviors linked to clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine which aspects of anthropometry and physical fitness testing are associated with physical activity (PA) levels among youth with obesity.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Method: Anthropometry [height, waist circumference, bodyweight, fat percentage], physical fitness [muscular endurance (partial curl-ups), flexibility (sit-and-reach), lower-body power (long-jump), upper-body strength (grip), speed/agility (5×5-m shuttle), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂-max)], and PA [light (LPA), moderate (MPA), vigorous (VPA), MVPA] was assessed in 203 youth with obesity.

Results: The sample was stratified by age <12 yrs (children); 12 yrs (adolescents) and sex. Stepwise regression evaluated associations between PA with anthropometry and physical fitness. Children (57% male) and adolescents (45% male) had a BMI Z-score of 3.5(SD:0.94) and 3.1(SD:0.76) respectively. Long-jump explained 19.5% [(Standardized) Beta=0.44; p=0.001] of variance in VPA for childhood girls and 12.6% (Beta=0.35; p=0.025) of variance in MPA for adolescent boys. 5×5-m shuttle explained 8.4% (Beta=-0.29; p=0.042) of variance in MVPA for childhood girls. Body mass explained 6.3% (Beta=-0.25; p=0.007) of variance in LPA in childhood boys. Fat percentage explained 9.8% (Beta=0.31; p=0.03) of variance in MPA in adolescent girls.

Conclusions: In conclusion, tests of lower body power, body mass and fat percentage provide limited information concerning PA levels in youth with obesity. Activity monitoring should be considered in addition to clinical assessments to more fully understand youth health.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Body composition; Body mass index; Free-living environment; Long jump; Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anthropometry*
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test*
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Male
Pediatric Obesity*
Physical Fitness*