Abstract
BackgroundThe associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and bone health may be differentially affected by weight status during growth. This study aims to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PA, SB and bone stiffness index (SI) in European children and adolescents, taking the weight status into consideration.MethodsCalcaneus SI was first measured by quantitative ultrasound among children aged 2–9 years old in 2007/08. It was measured again after 2 years in the IDEFICS study and after 6 years in the I. Family study. A sample of 2008 participants with time spent at sports clubs, watching TV and playing computer/games self-reported by questionnaire, and a subsample of 1037 participants with SB, light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) objectively measured using Actigraph accelerometers were included in the analyses. Weight status was defined as thin/normal and overweight/obese according to the extended International Obesity Task Force criteria. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PA, SB and SI percentiles, stratified by weight status.ResultsThe cross-sectional association between weekly duration of watching TV and SI percentiles was negative in thin/normal weight group (β = − 0.35, p = 0.008). However, baseline weekly duration of watching TV (β = − 0.63, p = 0.021) and change after 2 years (β = − 0.63, p = 0.022) as well as the change in weekly duration of playing computer/games after 6 years (β = − 0.75, p = 0.019) were inversely associated with corresponding changes in SI percentiles in overweight/obese group. Change in time spent at sports clubs was positively associated with change in SI percentiles after 2 years (β = 1.28, p = 0.001), with comparable effect sizes across weight status. In the subsample with accelerometer data, we found a positive cross-sectional association between MVPA and SI percentiles in thin/normal weight group. Baseline MVPA predicted changes in SI percentiles after 2 and 6 years in all groups.ConclusionsOur results suggested the beneficial effect of PA on SI. However, the increasing durations of screen-based SB might be risk factors for SI development, especially in overweight/obese children and adolescents.
Highlights
The associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and bone health may be differentially affected by weight status during growth
Our results suggested the beneficial effect of PA on stiffness index (SI)
We further demonstrated the benefit of adherence to established PA guidelines on long-term SI gain in children and adolescents, with those participating in objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) for at least 1 h per day having higher SI increases than their counterparts
Summary
The associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and bone health may be differentially affected by weight status during growth. The positive osteogenic effect of PA, in particular weight-bearing exercises (WBEs), on bone strength seems to be irrefutable [7, 8]. Despite these proven health benefits, the secular trend of PA shows a decrease among European children and adolescents, with most of them not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for PA [9,10,11]. More studies are needed to combine self-reported data with objectively measured data when examining the short- and long-term effects of context-specific PA and SB on bone strength in young populations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
