Abstract:
Tailored obesity management includes understanding physical activity (PA) and its context,
ideally in childhood before the onset of health risk. This cross-sectional study determined, by sex
and population, the PA of Southern African pre-adolescent urban primary school children. PA
was measured objectively (step count: pedometer) and subjectively (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children [PAQ-C]), taking confounders (phenotype, school-built environment, and
socio-economic environment) into account. Body composition was measured with multifrequency
bioelectrical impedance analysis (Seca mBCA). PA was adjusted for phenotypic confounders (body
size and composition) using multivariate regression. Sex and population differences in PA were
determined with two-way ANOVA. Ninety-four healthy pre-adolescents (60% girls, 52% black) with a
similar socio-economic status and access to PA participated. Amidst phenotypic differences, average
steps/day in girls (10,212) was lower than in boys (11,433) (p = 0.029), and lower in black (9280)
than in white (12,258) (p < 0.001) participants. PAQ-C scores (5-point rating) were lower for girls
(2.63) than boys (2.92) (p < 0.001) but higher for black (2.89) than white (2.58) (p < 0.001) participants.
Objective and subjective measurements were, however, not significantly (r = −0.02; p = 0.876) related
and PAQ-C failed to identify reactive changes in the step count. Objectively measured PA of black
participants and of girls was consistently lower than for white participants and boys. Target-group
specific interventions should therefore be considered.
