Association between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, Sleep, Diet, and Adiposity among Children and Adolescents in China

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB), sleep, and diet are related to adiposity among children and adolescents. However, there may be interactions between PA, SB, sleep, and diet, and these lifestyle behaviors may work together to affect body weight. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of multiple lifestyle behaviors of PA, SB, sleep, and diet on childhood adiposity (body mass index z-score and overweight/obesity), and to investigate the effect of meeting multiple guidelines on adiposity among children and adolescents in China.

Methods: Cross-sectional results were based on 28,048 children aged 6-17 years from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in 2010-2012. Information about PA, SB, and sleep was measured through interview-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed with food frequency questionnaire. The associations between multiple lifestyle behaviors and BMI z-score and overweight/obese were examined.

Results: The prevalence of overweight/obesity in the participants was 19.2%. The average time of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), leisure SB, and sleep was 76.7 ± 45.5 min, 2.9 ± 1.4 h, and 8.5 ± 1.1 h per day, respectively. The China Dietary Guidelines Index for Youth (CDGI-Y) score was 62.6 ± 11.0. Sleep duration and diet score were negative associated with BMI z-score (both p < 0.001). MVPA and SB time were positive associated with BMI z-score (p = 0.041, 0.004). Meeting the SB, sleep, and diet guidelines had a lower BMI z-score (all p < 0.01) and lower odds of overweight/obesity (all p < 0.05). There were significant interactions between PA and diet. Compared with meeting no guidelines, those who met multiple guidelines had a lower risk of overweight/obesity (all p < 0.01). The more guidelines the participants met, the lower odds of overweight/obesity (p for trend <0.001).

Conclusions: PA, SB, sleep, and diet are important behaviors associated with adiposity among children and adolescents. Attaining adequate amounts of appropriate multiple behaviors provided an additional benefit. It is important for children to meet recommended behavioral guidelines or recommendations. Interventions that aim to improve awareness of and compliance with these guidelines are needed in future.

Keywords: Body mass index; Childhood obesity; Lifestyle behaviors; Overweight.