Habitual physical activity and body composition of black township adolescents residing in the North West Province, South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
It is known that stunting and obesity affect a large proportion of children in the world, and these can be affected by the physical activity levels of the children. In the present study, we evaluated the association between physical activity, physical development and body composition in black adolescent children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Black township schools in the North West Province, South Africa.


METHODS
Three-hundred and thirteen grade 8 children were included in the Physical Activity in Youth study. Anthropometric measurements, body composition measures and maturity level as assessed by Tanner stages were determined in these children. In addition, Previous Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaires were administered on the children to record the various activities they undertake daily.


RESULTS
The demographic characteristics of the children showed a high level of homogeneity. A high prevalence of stunting (16.3%) was observed in the children, which was higher in boys than in girls (21.6 vs. 12.3%). Also prevalent was overweight/obesity (8.6%), but this was higher in girls than in boys (13.4 vs. 1.6%). The children also showed a reduction in levels of physical activity with advancement in maturity; furthermore, boys showed a more central form of fat deposition whilst girls showed more gynoid deposition.


CONCLUSIONS
The study revealed that physical activity plays a role in determining body composition, and further indicated that physical activity is associated with favourable body composition measures. Children who were more active were likely to have less fat deposits.
Mamabolo
R L
RL
School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Science, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa. vgerlm@puk.ac.za
Kruger
H S
HS
Lennox
A
A
Monyeki
M A
MA
Pienaar
A E
AE
Underhay
C
C
Czlapka-Matyasik
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires