Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations between Non-School Time Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Adiposity among Boys and Girls: An Isotemporal Substitution Approach

This study investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of the substitution of non-school time light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time (ST) with adiposity in boys and girls. Boys (n = 65, baseline Mage= 9.93 +/- 0.86 years) and girls (n = 77, baseline Mage = 10.17 +/- 0.95 years) wore waist-worn accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X) at baseline and at a 30-month follow-up, from which non-school time LPA, MVPA, ST, and total device wear were quantified. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height-ratio (WHR) were measured at baseline and follow-up. Body fat percent (BF%) was obtained at follow-up only. Isotemporal substitution models assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of reallocating non-school time activity with BMI, WHR and BF%. In boys, replacing 30 min/day of LPA with MVPA was cross-sectionally (beta = -8.26, p < 0.05) associated with a lower BF%. Replacing 30 min/day of ST with MVPA was cross-sectionally (beta = -6.02, p < 0.05) associated with a lower BF% in boys. Longitudinally in boys, replacing 30 min of change in LPA with MVPA (beta = -7.42, p < 0.10) and replacing 30 min of change in MVPA with ST (beta = 5.78, p < 0.10) over 30 months was marginally associated with less BF%. Associations were null in girls (p > 0.05). These results may support targeting activity reallocation during non-school time for the purposes of adiposity improvement in boys. A multi-behavioral approach may be more appropriate for girls, as non-school time activity may not be driving adiposity status.

Automated summary

This study found that in boys, replacing light physical activity (LPA) with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during non-school time was associated with lower body fat percentage (BF%), while no significant associations were observed in girls.