title: The influence of sport club participation on physical activity, fitness and body fat during childhood and adolescence: The LOOK Longitudinal Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the longitudinal effect of sport participation in physical activity, fitness and body fat changes during childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study (134 boys, 155 girls) of Australian youth aged 8-16 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity was assessed by pedometers and accelerometers, fitness by the 20m shuttle-run, body fat by DEXA and club sport participation by questionnaire. Linear mixed models were used to determine the effects of sport participation and gender differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sports club participants were more physically active at all age groups than non-participants; boys took an extra 1800 steps (p<0.001) and girls 590 steps per day (p<0.01) and boys engaged in an extra 9min and girls 6min more moderate to vigorous PA per day (both p<0.05). Fitness was higher among sports participants (boys 27% and girls 20% higher, both p<0.001) and sport participant girls had 2.9% less body fat (p<0.05). Higher fitness scores were maintained over time by sports participants but their greater PA diminished during adolescence, this being more evident among girls. Only 20% of sports club participants met the recommended daily average of 60min MVPA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sport participants were more active, fitter and had less body fat (girls only) than non-sports participants. However, the associated benefits of sport with PA diminished during adolescence and the majority of sports participants did not meet recommended levels of PA. Strategies aiming to maximise the benefits of sports participation may be enhanced by providing special attention to the early adolescent period particularly among girls.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: rohan@look.org.au.
authors.forename: Rohan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.affiliation: Medical School, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Australia; Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: richard.telford@look.org.au.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: tom.cochrane@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cochrane
authors.affiliation: Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Australia. Electronic address: ross.cunningham@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ross B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Australian National University, Australia. Electronic address: lisa.olive@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Olive
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: rachel.davey@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davey
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009938:Organizations; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013177:Sports
keywords: Fitness; Longitudinal; Obesity; Physical activity; Sport; Youth