Hyperactivity is associated with higher fat‐free mass and physical activity in Swedish preschoolers: A cross‐sectional study

AIM: We investigated psychological strengths and difficulties in a Swedish population of preschool children and analysed how these behavioural variables were related to body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity levels, sedentary behaviour and diet. METHODS: Three hundred and fifteen boys and girls were recruited during 2014‐2015. Body composition was measured using air‐displacement plethysmography, and anthropometric measures were taken. Parents responded to questions about age, sex and educational attainment, diet, physical activity levels and smoking habits, as well as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Regression models were created to analyse associations between psychological variables, body composition and health behaviours. RESULTS: Hyperactivity scores were positively related to fat‐free mass (β = 0.20, P = .001) and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (β = 0.16, P = .003) and negatively associated with sedentary behaviours (β = 0.18, P = .001), but showed no statistically significant associations with fat mass. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the adverse health consequences of hyperactivity on obesity and obesity‐related health behaviours may be established after the preschool period. Questions about the time frame of contributing and modulating factors in obesity development are discussed.