title: Lack of physical activity in young children is related to higher composite risk factor score for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates whether accelerometer-measured physical activity is related to higher composite risk factor scores for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study that included 223 children aged 7.9-11.1 years (boys n = 123, girls n = 100). Daily physical activity was assessed by accelerometers for 4 days. Body fat was quantified by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured during a maximal exercise test. Resting heart rate and blood pressure were measured. Z-scores [(value for the individual - mean value for group)/SD] were calculated for each variable, and the sum of different risk factor z-scores used as an index of composite risk factors score for CVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial correlations, from General Linear Model, between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA) and general physical activity versus index of composite risk factor score were in boys 0.29, 0.33 and 0.30 (all p < 0.05), respectively. The corresponding correlations in girls were -0.28, -0.32 (both p < 0.05) and -0.18 (NS), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low amounts of MVPA and VPA were related to higher composite risk factor scores for CVD in children aged 8-11 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. tina.tanha@skane.se
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanha
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wollmer
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thorsson
authors.forename: Magnus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindén
authors.forename: Lars B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dencker
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden