Title
Asthmatic symptoms, physical activity, and overweight in young children: A cohort study
Author
Eijkemans, M.
Mommers, M.
de Vries, S.I.
van Buuren, S.
Stafleu, A.
Bakker, I.
Thijs, C.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. Prevalence of asthma and overweight has increased simultaneously during the past decades. Several studies have reported an association between these two health problems, but it is unclear whether this relation is causal. We hypothesize that children with asthmatic symptoms are less physically active, which may contribute to the development of overweight. PATIENTS AND METHODS. The study included children from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study who were invited at 4 to 5 years of age to wear an Actigraph accelerometer for 5 days (n = 305; 152 boys). Information on wheezing was gathered by repeated questionnaires completed by parents at child ages 7 months and 1, 2, and 4 to 5 years. Questionnaires on physical activity were completed at child age 4 to 5 years, and height, weight, and abdominal circumference were measured. Accelerometer data were expressed as mean counts per minute, minutes per day performing vigorous activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during ≥ minute. RESULTS. Children who had wheezed in the last 12 months showed very similar activity levels compared with children who had never wheezed. By contrast, boys who had wheezed at least once but not in the last 12 months were more physically active than boys who had never wheezed (geometric mean: 694 vs 625 cpm; adjusted geometric mean ratio: 1.11). This was not found for girls. Similar results were found in parent-reported physical activity data. No association was found between wheezing at any age and overweight at the age of 4 to 5 years. CONCLUSIONS. These results do not support our hypothesis and previous studies that showed that wheezing children are less physically active. Our data provide no evidence that asthmatic symptoms induce a lower physical activity level and more overweight. Additional research could concentrate on the effect of physical activity and overweight on the development of asthmatic symptoms. Copyright © 2008 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Subject
Healthy for Life
Health
Healthy Living
Accelerometer
Asthma
Child
Overweight
Physical activity
Wheeze
Accelerometer
Actimetry
Article
Asthma
Birth weight
Body height
Body weight
Breast feeding
Child
Cohort analysis
Family history
Female
Human
Lifestyle
Major clinical study
Male
Netherlands
Obesity
Parent
Physical activity
Preschool child
Priority journal
Questionnaire
Waist circumference
Wheezing
Abnormal respiratory sound
Age
Body mass
Comorbidity
Follow up
Motor activity
Physiology
Prevalence
Probability
Risk factor
Sex difference
Statistical model
Age Factors
Asthma
Body Mass Index
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Male
Motor Activity
Netherlands
Overweight
Prevalence
Probability
Respiratory Sounds
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:92b2182b-ad86-4f26-9945-fbd3ee3236bb
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-1236
TNO identifier
240667
ISSN
0031-4005
Source
Pediatrics, 121 (3)
Document type
article