Physical activity and overweight in children and adolescents using intensified insulin treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe physical activity and inactivity and parameters associated with overweight in a population-based study of children and adolescents on intensive insulin treatment.


METHODS
Physical activity and inactivity were evaluated in 723 type 1 diabetic subjects, 240 children aged 6-10 yr and 483 adolescents aged 11-19 yr, using a questionnaire that can estimate total amount of time spent on inactivity and light, moderate and vigorous activity.


RESULTS
Overall, 54% of the participants do not fulfil the international recommendations of 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day. Girls are less active than boys in childhood (70 vs. 88 min/d, p = 0.01) and in adolescence (47 vs. 57 min/d, p = 0.02). Furthermore, this study shows that those who are more active are also those who seldom skip meals (p < 0.001). Forty-three percent of the participants watch TV for more than 2 h a day, and TV viewing was found to be related to overweight in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes [OR: 2.5 (1.40-4.54), p = 0.002]. No statistical differences in physical activity were noted between the different intensified insulin regimens. Patients wearing insulin pumps were not less active.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase physical activity to recommended level and limit TV viewing should be an important issue in education of all children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, independent of insulin regimen.
Øverby
Nina C
NC
Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. ninaco@medisin.uio.no
Margeirsdottir
Hanna D
HD
Brunborg
Cathrine
C
Anderssen
Sigmund A
SA
Andersen
Lene F
LF
Dahl-Jørgensen
Knut
K
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013690:Television; D055815:Young Adult
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin