Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Weight Status, and Body Composition among South African Primary Schoolchildren

Markus Gerber (), Christin Lang, Johanna Beckmann, Rosa du Randt, Kurt Z. Long, Ivan Müller, Madeleine Nienaber, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Peter Steinmann, Uwe Pühse, Jürg Utzinger, Siphesihle Nqweniso and Cheryl Walter
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Markus Gerber: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Christin Lang: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Johanna Beckmann: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Rosa du Randt: Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
Kurt Z. Long: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
Ivan Müller: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Madeleine Nienaber: Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
Nicole Probst-Hensch: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
Peter Steinmann: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
Uwe Pühse: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
Siphesihle Nqweniso: Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
Cheryl Walter: Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Over the past decades, childhood overweight has increased in many African countries. We examined the relationship between sedentary behaviour, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body composition in South African primary schoolchildren living in peri-urban settings. Methods: MVPA was measured via 7-day accelerometry and body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis in 1090 learners (49.2% girls, M age = 8.3 ± 1.4 years). The relationships between MVPA and sedentary behaviour with the various body composition indicators (body fat and fat-free mass [total, truncal, arms, and legs], bone mass, muscle mass, and body water) were tested with mixed linear regressions. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 9.8% and 6.6%, respectively; 77.1% of the children engaged in ≥60 min of MVPA/day. Girls were more likely to be overweight/obese, to accumulate less than 60 min of MVPA/day, and had significantly higher relative body fat than boys ( p s < 0.001). Lower MVPA was associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight/obese, higher relative body fat, and lower relative fat-free mass, bone mass, muscle mass, and body water ( p s < 0.001). For lower sedentary behaviour, the associations with body composition pointed in the opposite direction. Conclusions: In this South African setting, girls are a particularly relevant target group for future physical activity interventions to prevent overweight/obesity-related non-communicable diseases in later life.

Keywords: accelerometer; body fat; body water; bone mass; fat-free mass; muscle mass; physical activity; schoolchildren; sedentary behaviour; South Africa (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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