Physical Activity, Adiposity and Blood Pressure Levels among Urban Affluent Adolescents in India

Abstract

Objective: As adolescence is a period of great decline in habitual physical activity, it is important to examine its relationship with adiposity and its health consequences among adolescents. Design: cross sectional study Setting: School children from Pune city, India. Subjects: Adolescent (9-16 yr) school children from high socio economic class (n=901) were measured for body weight, height, body fat, skinfolds, waist circumference and blood pressure. Physical activity data was obtained using a semi-structured activity questionnaire on overweight and their age-sex matched controls. Results: Using conventional cut off, 24.8 % boys and 19.0% girls were overweight. Higher body mass index (BMI), body fat, skinfolds and waist were associated with higher prevalence of high blood pressure. Prevalence of overweight was significantly lower among children spending ≥ 90 min/d in outdoor games, among those spending ≥ 30 min/d in special activities and with total active time ≥ 200 min/d. In contrast, prevalence of overweight was higher among those with time spent in indoor games ≥ 60 min/d, TV viewing ≥ 120 min/d and having total inactive time ≥ 240 min/d. Higher inactivity showed positive association, while higher activity showed negative association with central adiposity as assessed by sum of subscapulr and suprailiac and waist circumference. Risk for overweight associated were- higher time in indoor games (OR: 1.66 95% CI = 1.02-2.70), less time in outdoor games (OR: 8.08, 95% CI: 4.8-13.6), higher inactive time (OR: 7.67, 95% CI: 4.3-13.4), higher time in TV viewing (OR: 11.6, 95 % CI 6.3-21.4). Risks associated with high blood pressure were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The observations underscore the importance of promoting physical activity in adolescents for prevention of obesity.