Organized Sport Participation Is Associated with Higher Levels of Overall Health-Related Physical Activity in Children (CHAMPS Study-DK).
BACKGROUND
Many children fail to meet international guideline recommendations for health-related activity (≥60 minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]), and intervention studies to date have reported negligible effects.


OBJECTIVE
Explore the associations of organized leisure-time sport participation with overall physical activity levels and health-related physical activity guideline concordance.


METHODS
This prospective cohort study was nested in the Childhood Health, Activity, and Motor Performance School Study Denmark. Study participants were a representative sample of 1124 primary school students. Organized leisure-time sport participation was reported via text messaging and physical activity was objectively measured over seven days with accelerometry. Associations between sport participation and physical activity level were explored with multilevel mixed-effects regression models and reported with beta coefficients (b) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR).


RESULTS
Participants were 53% female, with mean(SD) age = 8.4(1.4) years. Boys were more active than girls (p<0.001), and physical activity levels and guideline concordance decreased with age (p<0.001). Soccer participation at any frequency was associated with greater overall MVPA (b[95% CI] = 0.66[0.20,1.13] to 2.44[1.44,3.44]). Depending on participation frequency, this equates to 5-20 minutes more MVPA on the average day and 3 to 15 fold increased odds of achieving recommended levels of health-related physical activity (aOR[95%CI] = 3.04[1.49,6.19] to 14.49[1.97,106.56]). Similar associations were identified among children playing handball at least twice per week. Relationships with other sports (gymnastics, basketball, volleyball) were inconsistent.


CONCLUSIONS
Many children, particularly girls and those in higher grade levels do not adhere to health-related physical activity recommendations. Organized leisure-time sport participation may be a viable strategy to increase overall health-related physical activity levels and international guideline concordance in children.
School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.
Jeffrey J
JJ
Hebert
Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Niels C
NC
Møller
Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Sport Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Lars B
LB
Andersen
Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Sport medicine Clinic, the Orthopedic Department, Hospital of Middelfart, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark.
Niels
N
Wedderkopp
D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports; D013997:Time Factors