Physical Activity and Related Factors in Pre-Adolescent Southern African Children of Diverse Population Groups

Adeline Pretorius (), Paola Wood, Piet Becker and Friede Wenhold
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Adeline Pretorius: Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Arcadia 0007, South Africa
Paola Wood: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Arcadia 0007, South Africa
Piet Becker: Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Arcadia 0007, South Africa
Friede Wenhold: Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Arcadia 0007, South Africa

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Tailored obesity management includes understanding physical activity (PA) and its context, ideally in childhood before the onset of health risk. This cross-sectional study determined, by sex and population, the PA of Southern African pre-adolescent urban primary school children. PA was measured objectively (step count: pedometer) and subjectively (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children [PAQ-C]), taking confounders (phenotype, school-built environment, and socio-economic environment) into account. Body composition was measured with multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (Seca mBCA). PA was adjusted for phenotypic confounders (body size and composition) using multivariate regression. Sex and population differences in PA were determined with two-way ANOVA. Ninety-four healthy pre-adolescents (60% girls, 52% black) with a similar socio-economic status and access to PA participated. Amidst phenotypic differences, average steps/day in girls (10,212) was lower than in boys (11,433) ( p = 0.029), and lower in black (9280) than in white (12,258) ( p < 0.001) participants. PAQ-C scores (5-point rating) were lower for girls (2.63) than boys (2.92) ( p < 0.001) but higher for black (2.89) than white (2.58) ( p < 0.001) participants. Objective and subjective measurements were, however, not significantly (r = −0.02; p = 0.876) related and PAQ-C failed to identify reactive changes in the step count. Objectively measured PA of black participants and of girls was consistently lower than for white participants and boys. Target-group specific interventions should therefore be considered.

Keywords: physical activity; pre-adolescent; objective measurement; subjective measurement; body composition; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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