Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and BMI in schoolchildren: age and gender differences

Albisua Kaperotxipi, Neritzel; Angulo Garay, Garazi; Río de Frutos, Xabier; Sáez Gómez de Cadiñanos, Iker; Ubierna, Iván; Ruiz Parra, Borja; Larrinaga Undabarrena, Arkaitz

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and BMI in schoolchildren: age and gender differences

Archivos

albisua_physical_2025.pdf (257.06 KB)

Fecha

2025-07-07

Autores

Albisua Kaperotxipi, Neritzel

Angulo Garay, Garazi

Río de Frutos, Xabier

Sáez Gómez de Cadiñanos, Iker

Ubierna, Iván

Ruiz Parra, Borja

Larrinaga Undabarrena, Arkaitz

Editor

South Florida Publishing

Resumen

Physical activity during childhood and adolescence is essential for healthy development, yet levels of activity tend to decline with age and may differ according to gender and body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to assess physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years and to examine differences by gender, age, and BMI. A total of 89 schoolchildren (46 boys and 43 girls) from Bizkaia, Spain, wore ActiGraph WGT3X-BT accelerometers for seven consecutive days. PA levels were categorized into light, moderate, and vigorous intensities. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlations, t-tests, and ANOVA. The results showed a strong negative correlation between age and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (r = –0.738, p < 0.001), as well as between BMI and MVPA (r = –0.445, p < 0.001). Girls accumulated more light (p < 0.001) and moderate PA (p = 0.001), while boys engaged in more vigorous PA (p = 0.002). Sedentary behavior increased significantly with age (p = 0.006), and only 38% of participants met the World Health Organization's recommendation of at least 60 minutes of MVPA per day. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions that address age- and gender-related differences in physical activity patterns and promote healthier behaviors across the school years.

Palabras clave

Physical activity
Sedentary behavior
Accelerometry
Age differences
Body Mass Index

Cita

Neritzel Albisua Kaperotxipi, Garazi Angulo Garay, Xabier Río de Frutos, Ubierna, I., Borja Ruiz Parra, Iker Sáez Gómez de Cadiñanos, & Arkaitz Larrinaga Undabarrena. (2025). Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and BMI in schoolchildren: age and gender differences. South Florida Journal of Development, 6(7). https://doi.org/10.46932/SFJDV6N7-003

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14454/4675

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