Effects of a 2-year lifestyle intervention on physical activity in overweight and obese children

Abstract

The aim was to examine the effect on physical activity of a 2-year family-based lifestyle intervention among overweight and obese Swedish children 8–12 years of age; 105 children were randomized to either intervention or control group. The intervention group was offered a 2-year lifestyle programme. Physical activity was measured using SenseWear Pro2 Armband during 4 consecutive days before and after the intervention. When comparing the intervention and control groups, no significant differences were found in the physical activity outcome variables after 2 years of intervention. However, the intervention group decreased their number of steps per day by 13%, p = 0.003 but had an unchanged screen time, whereas the control group had an unchanged number of steps but increased their screen time by 15%, p = 0.02, from baseline to 2-year measurement. There were no significant change in the intervention group, whereas significantly fewer children in the control group achieved the physical activity recommendations at 2-year measurement (88%) compared with at baseline (98%), p = 0.007. Future interventions regarding physical activity among overweight and obese children are of great importance even though the present one showed limited effects. In the continuing work, a greater effect may be received with an extended and more intense intervention regarding physical activity, focusing on reducing sedentary time rather than increasing the physical activity level.

Key words::

• BMI
• childhood
• exercise habits
• prevention

Acknowledgement

We thank all the children and their parents for their participation as well as research nurses Åsa Sundström and Margareta Bäckman for their dedicated work. Financial support was obtained from the Vårdal Foundation for Healthcare Sciences and Allergy Research; the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning; the Swedish Research Council, the Medical Faculty and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Umeå University; Västerbotten County Council; Dr PersFood AB; Majblommans Riksförbund; the Magnus Bergvall Foundation and the Research Unit Jamtland County Council.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.