title: Physical activity, quality of life, and weight status in overweight children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between health quality of life, physical activity, and overweight status in children aged 8-12 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 177 overweight boys and girls) completed a validated quality of life (QOL) inventory and wore an accelerometer to objectively measure physical activity for 1 week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's standardized growth charts were used to categorize participants as overweight (M BMI% = 95.6) or obese status (M BMI% = 99.0) while accelerometer data was used to categorize participants as meeting or not meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychosocial, physical, and total QOL (all P < 0.05) were significantly lower for obese when compared to overweight participants. Less physically active children, irrespective of weight status, had significantly lower psychosocial and total QOL (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity promotion in overweight and obese children may have additional benefits to weight management that include improving QOL.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Boulder, USA.
authors.forename: Jo Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shoup
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gattshall
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dandamudi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Estabrooks
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*