Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise:
May 2006 - Volume 38 - Issue 5 - p S7
Presidential Closing Remarks 12:05 PM - 12:15 PM: Immediately Following President's Lectures ROOM: Ballroom 2/3 and Ballroom 1: A-17 Free Communication/Slide - Fitness, Activity, and Health Risk: WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2006 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM ROOM: 304
The origins of obesity and hypertension occur early in childhood; therefore understanding the role of physical activity on the obesity-hypertensive phenotype is an important child health issue.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical activity, waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP) in young children. Specifically, we were interested to determine if a) the relationships between physical activity and WC were independent of the body mass index (BMI) and b) if the relationships between physical activity and BP remained significant after controlling for WC.
METHODS: Participants were 101 (49 males, 52 females) children ages 3 to 8 yrs. BMI and WC were determined by standard anthropometric procedures. Physical activity was assessed using the MTI Actigraph accelerometer. Blood pressure was measured according to American Heart Association procedures.
RESULTS: Approximately 23%, 25%, and 17% of the sample presented with prehypertension, hypertension, and a WC greater than the 75th percentile for their age, respectively. The prevalence of elevated WC and BP combined was approximately 7%. Correlations between physical activity, WC, and BP were low, but in the expected direction. Significant correlations ranged from -0.28 to -0.44 in girls and -0.20 to -0.22 for the total sample, when controlling for age. Correlations between physical activity and WC were no longer significant after further adjustment for BMI. Correlations between physical activity and BP, were significant in girls for moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (r=-0.28) and moderate intensity activity (r=-0.38) even after controlling for WC.
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the association between physical activity and WC is not independent of BMI. Additionally, the relationship between physical activity, specifically moderate intensity physical activity, and blood pressure is independent of WC in girls but not boys.