Changes in Physical Activity Patterns from Childhood to Adolescence: Genobox Longitudinal Study

Francisco Jesús Llorente-Cantarero, Francisco Javier Aguilar-Gómez, Augusto Anguita-Ruiz, Azahara Iris Rupérez, Rocío Vázquez-Cobela, Katherine Flores-Rojas, Concepción M. Aguilera, Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil, Mercedes Gil-Campos, Gloria Bueno-Lozano and Rosaura Leis
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Francisco Jesús Llorente-Cantarero: Department of Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Francisco Javier Aguilar-Gómez: Metabolism and Investigation Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Institute Maimónides of Biomedicine Investigation of Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Augusto Anguita-Ruiz: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Azahara Iris Rupérez: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Rocío Vázquez-Cobela: Unit of Investigation in Nutrition, Growth and Human Development of Galicia, Department of Pediatrics, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Katherine Flores-Rojas: Metabolism and Investigation Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Institute Maimónides of Biomedicine Investigation of Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Concepción M. Aguilera: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Mercedes Gil-Campos: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Gloria Bueno-Lozano: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Rosaura Leis: CIBEROBN, (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition) Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: Longitudinal changes of physical activity (PA) from childhood into adolescence have not been accurately described yet for the Spanish population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes of PA, assessed by accelerometry and anthropometric measures in a cohort of 213 children from the prepubertal to pubertal period, focusing on those with valid data from both time points ( n = 75). Sedentary time (ST) increased about 50%, while all PA intensities declined from the pre-pubertal to pubertal period. Light PA (LPA) was the major contributor, decreasing by about 30%. Boys were more active than girls in both periods, but they showed a higher decline in PA, especially moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). The proportion who reached the recommendation of 60 min of MVPA decreased by 33.3% in boys and 4.6% in girls. Children with obesity or overweight had lower MVPA than those with normal-weight in the pre-pubertal period, but no differences were found in the pubertal period. This study shows a decrease of PA and an increase of sedentarism in the transition from childhood to adolescence, particularly in boys. Regardless of body weight, adolescents tend to be less active. Therefore, prevention programs should be implemented to achieve optimal PA and reduce sedentarism during infancy considering the differences found by sex.

Keywords: childhood; obesity; physical activity; pubertal status; sedentary time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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