Abstract
We aim to explore the independent associations of sedentary behaviors (SB) with body mass distribution among Chinese children. Data on the screen-based sedentary time (television viewing and computer use) and doing homework, physical activities and dietary intake of 1586 Chinese children (50.3% girls) aged 7–15 years were obtained through validated questionnaires. Skin-fold thickness, body height, and weight were measured to calculate percent body fat (%BF), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Parental characteristics were collected by questionnaires. Among girls, time of SB (screen time or doing homework) was positively related to %BF, FMI, and FFMI (p < 0.03) after adjusting for maternal overweight, the average annual income of family, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity energy expenditure, and energy intake: Girls in the highest tertile of screen time/homework had 16.7%/23.3% higher relative FMI and 2.9%/2.9% higher relative FFMI than girls in the lowest tertile. Among boys, screen time was positively associated with FFMI (p < 0.003), but not related to %BF and FMI (p > 0.09), while time of doing homework was positively related to %BF and FMI (p = 0.03). Sedentary behaviors might be positively and independently related to fat mass among Chinese children, and were more pronounced in girls.
Highlights
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity constitutes one of the most important threats to public health in China [1]
The present study suggested that time spent on sedentary behaviors (SB), i.e., screen time and doing homework, was positively associated with body mass distribution in Chinese children and adolescents, independent of physical activity (PA) and energy intake (EI)
Unlike in other studies, we examined the independence of the association between SB and body mass distribution from PA and EI
Summary
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity constitutes one of the most important threats to public health in China [1]. Observational studies on this issue among Western children [3,4,5,6,7,8] yield controversial conclusions: one cross-sectional study [3] and one prospective study [4] showed that time spent on self-reported television viewing was directly associated with body fat mass in U.S children aged 5–11 years [4] and in British children. Other prospective studies suggested that the relationship between SB and body fat mass was not independent of PA among children [5,6,7,8]. Energy intake (EI), an important potential factor for energy balance, has not yet been considered among these studies
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