Physical activity, quality of life, and weight status in overweight children.
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.
Shoup
Jo Ann
JA
Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Boulder, USA.
Gattshall
Michelle
M
Dandamudi
Padma
P
Estabrooks
Paul
P
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*