Xanthopoulos MS, Walega R, Xiao R, Pipan ME, Cochrane CI, Zemel BS, Kelly A, Magge SN. Physical Activity in Youth with Down Syndrome and Its Relationship with Adiposity.
J Dev Behav Pediatr 2023;
44:e436-e443. [PMID:
37216578 PMCID:
PMC10524123 DOI:
10.1097/dbp.0000000000001192]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
The aims of this study are to (1) compare physical activity (PA) and sedentary activity (SA) in youth with and without Down syndrome (DS and non-DS) and examine the relationships of PA and SA with their traditional risk factors (age, sex, race, and body mass index Z score [BMI-Z]) and (2) explore the relationship of PA with visceral fat (VFAT) in both groups.
METHODS
SenseWear accelerometry data from at least 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day were collected from youth with DS (N = 77) and non-DS (N = 57) youth. VFAT was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry.
RESULTS
In age-, sex-, race-, and BMI-Z-adjusted models, those with DS engaged in more minutes of light PA (LPA) ( p < 0.0001) and less SA ( p = 0.003) and trended toward fewer minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) ( p = 0.08) than non-DS youth. No race or sex differences in MVPA were detected in those with DS, unlike non-DS. After additional adjustment for pubertal status, the relationship between MVPA and VFAT approached significance ( p = 0.06), whereas the relationships of LPA and SA with VFAT were maintained ( p ≤ 0.0001 for both).
CONCLUSION
Youth with DS engage in more LPA compared with non-DS, which, in typically developing populations, can confer a more favorable weight status. Increasing the opportunity for youth with DS to engage in LPA as part of their activities of daily living may offer a viable strategy for achieving healthy weight when barriers restrict pursuit of more vigorous PA.
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