Relationship between Body Mass Index and Physical Activity among Children from Low-Income Communities in Gqeberha, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Danielle Dolley (), Rosa Du Randt, Uwe Pühse, Markus Gerber, Jacob Bosma, Ann Aerts, Larissa Adams, Patricia Arnaiz, Nandi Joubert, Ivan Müller, Siphesihle Nqweniso, Harald Seelig, Peter Steinmann, Jürg Utzinger and Cheryl Walter
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Danielle Dolley: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 77000, South Africa
Rosa Du Randt: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 77000, South Africa
Uwe Pühse: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Markus Gerber: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Jacob Bosma: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 77000, South Africa
Ann Aerts: Novartis Foundation, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Larissa Adams: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 77000, South Africa
Patricia Arnaiz: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Nandi Joubert: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Ivan Müller: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Siphesihle Nqweniso: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 77000, South Africa
Harald Seelig: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Peter Steinmann: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
Cheryl Walter: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 77000, South Africa

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: This study aimed to establish the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity, the level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the association thereof among vulnerable children from low-income communities in South Africa. Cross-sectional data were collected from 916 children (467 boys and 449 girls) aged 8–13 years ( x ̄ = 10.4 ± 1.2 years) attending eight low-income schools in Gqeberha, South Africa. Measured outcomes included accelerometery-measured physical activity (PA), weight, height and body mass index (BMI). Analysis of variance was used to determine the mean difference of total MVPA stratified by sex and BMI classification. Overall, 13% of the cohort were underweight, 19% were overweight/obese and 64% engaged in 60 min of MVPA per day. Girls presented nearly twice the odds of being overweight or obese than boys (95% CI: 1.40–2.77). Underweight to normal-weight children (boys: OR = 3.89, 95% CI: 2.18–6.93; girls: OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.13–2.80) were more likely to engage in 60 min/day of MVPA than overweight to obese children. There is an inverse association between BMI categories and theduration of MVPA achieved per day. Special attention should be aimed at increasing awareness of healthy nutrition and promoting a variety of PA, especially among girls and children with excess weight.

Keywords: children; body mass index; underweight; overweight; obesity; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; low-income schools (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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