Abstract
BackgroundBefore starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed about the prevalence of sedentary behaviors and low physical exercise, their interrelationships, possible gender differences. Therefore this study aimed to describe gender differences in sedentary and physical exercise behaviors and their association with overweight status in children from nine European countries. Additionally, to identify clusters of children sharing the same pattern regarding sedentary and physical exercise behavior and compare these groups regarding overweight status.MethodsCross-sectional study among 11-year-old children in nine countries (n = 12538). Self-administered questionnaires assessed the time spent on TV viewing during dinner and during the day, PC use and on physical exercise. The parents reported children's weight and height. Descriptive statistics, cluster analyses, and logistic regression analyses were used for data analyses.ResultsBoys spent more time on sedentary behaviors but also more on physical exercise than girls. High TV viewing and low exercise behavior independently increased the risk of being overweight. Based on the behaviors, five clusters were identified. Among boys, clear associations with being overweight were found, with the most unhealthy behavior pattern having the highest risks of being overweight. Among girls, high TV viewers and high PC users had increased risk of being overweight. In girls sedentary behaviors seemed more important than physical exercise with regard to overweight status.ConclusionDespite selective non-response on BMI and reliance on self-reports, the associations between clusters and overweight in boys were clear, and differences between boys and girls regarding the behaviors and risks for overweight are noteworthy. These differences need to be considered when developing tailored intervention strategies for prevention of overweight.
Highlights
Before starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed about the prevalence of sedentary behaviors and low physical exercise, their interrelationships, possible gender differences
The prevalence of sedentary and low physical exercise behaviors varied by country (Table 1)
The estimated odds ratios (ORs) were not influenced by adjustments for family educational level. This international study showed that the prevalence of sedentary and physical exercise behavior varies across countries and by gender, with boys exhibiting more typical recreational sedentary behaviors and being more physically active than girls
Summary
Before starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed about the prevalence of sedentary behaviors and low physical exercise, their interrelationships, possible gender differences. This study aimed to describe gender differences in sedentary and physical exercise behaviors and their association with overweight status in children from nine European countries. Prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing in Europe as well as in other developed countries [1]. This is a major concern as it has harmful physical, psychological, behavioral, social and economic consequences. There are increased opportunities for children to be sedentary in their leisure time; especially TV viewing and electronic gaming are shown to be positively related with overweight [3,4,5]. Time spent on sedentary behaviors is inversely associated with physical exercise among adolescents [5,6], among girls [4]; controversies exist on this issue [7]
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