Comparison of daily physical activity parameters using objective methods between overweight and normal-weight children

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine if there were any differences in various aspects of physical activity such as energy expenditure, intensity, and type of activity between normal-weight and overweight boys. METHODS: Children aged 9−12 years were recruited from 2 elementary schools located in different urban districts in Republic of Korea. The present study included 45 Korean boys, of which 19 were normal-weight and 26 were overweight. Daily physical activity was estimated over the same 1-week study period under free-living conditions using the doubly labeled water (DLW) method and a tri-axial accelerometer. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured using the Douglas bag method and open-circuit indirect calorimetry. We calculated the physical activity level (PAL) as the total energy expenditure (TEE)/RMR. RESULTS: PAL was not significantly different between the groups. In the accelerometer data, time spent in locomotive moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly lower in overweight boys than in normal-weight subjects, whereas other variables including non-locomotive activity did not differ between groups. In addition, among all participants, time spent in total locomotive activity was significantly associated with PAL. Time spent in locomotive MVPA was significantly associated with PAL. CONCLUSION: Overweight boys may be less physically active based on locomotive MVPA, which was positively related with PAL. Our findings suggest that the contribution of locomotive MVPA to the increase in PAL was relatively significant.