Sex-specific longitudinal associations between repeatedly measured movement behaviours and adiposity measures in school-aged children: a compositional data analysis approach
Authors' conclusion
This study highlights sex-specific associations of movement behaviours with adiposity in school-aged children, with stronger associations observed in MRI-derived measures compared to conventional adiposity indices. Replacing LPA/SB with MVPA reduced BMI and abdominal adiposity in both sexes, with particularly pronounced effects on visceral adiposity. However, sleep replacement benefits were observed only in boys, suggesting the need for gender-sensitive approaches in lifestyle interventions.
Study context
- Population
- School-aged children in the GUSTO cohort (Singapore), assessed at ages 5.5–6, 7.5–8 and 10–10.5 years; 24-h movement behaviours by wrist-worn accelerometer49.5% girls
- Participants
- 531 children
- Exposure
- 24-h movement behaviours and adiposity, by sex
- Outcome
- BMI and abdominal adiposity (abdominal circumference, MRI-based abdominal fat volumes)
- Follow-up
- Ages 5.5-6, 7.5-8, and 10-10.5 years
Methodological detailslongitudinal, repeated measures at three time points, compositional data analysis, isotemporal substitution
- Longitudinal
- Repeated measures at three time points
- Compositional data analysis
- Isotemporal substitution
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Girls: higher MVPA relative to other behaviours, BMI
−0.8 (−1.5, −0.1) kg/m²
Girls: higher MVPA relative to other behaviours, total abdominal adiposity
−225.5 (−451.6, −2.5) mL
Boys: longer sleep duration, BMI
−1.6 (−3.2, −0.1) kg/m²
Boys: longer sleep duration, total abdominal adiposity
−624.2 (−1225.6, −31.3) mL
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Isotemporal substitution: replacing 30 min of LPA/sedentary behaviour (SB) with MVPA
- Reduction in BMI and abdominal circumference, both sexes
- 1-2%
- Reduction in MRI-measured abdominal adiposity, both sexes
- 6-9%
Isotemporal substitution: replacing LPA/SB with sleep
- Reduction in BMI and abdominal circumference, boys only
- 1%
- Reduction in MRI-measured adiposity, boys only
- 3-6%
- No changes in girls
- Associations pronounced on visceral adiposity
Original publication
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