Understanding the role of Physical‐ and Screen‐ Activity in Promoting Overweight in Children: an International Perspective

Abstract

Lack of physical activity and sedentariness are seen as promoters of children overweight. Using a unified protocol, a cross-sectional study has been performed on 960 children in India, Italy, Germany, France, UK, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil. Children CDC z-scores for Body Mass Index have been evaluated in association with physical activity and exposure to screen activities (TV, video games, internet/PC) and indirect effect of TV (brand-awareness due to advertising). Effects have been adjusted by several known factors of overweight (maternal/neonatal aspects, socio-economic status, BMI of parents, physical/screening activity, nutrition habits). Based on a random-effect mixed effect model the standardized effects of physical activity (none, greater or lower than 3 hours/week, hours/week of screen and IBAY-score for brand awareness) on CDC z-scores for BMI have been computed. See absolute effects (independently on the sign of relationship with BMI) in the graph. Screening activity and brand awareness are significantly associated with children's BMI only in UK (p=0.04). In emerging countries like India and Brazil what matter most is the physical activity level (p=0.023 and p=0.033). Research on the role of screening and physical activity should be specifically adapted to different cultural settings, where their role might be different, to promote sound and specifically targeted interventions.