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Gerber M, Lang C, Beckmann J, du Randt R, Long KZ, Müller I, Nienaber M, Probst-Hensch N, Steinmann P, Pühse U, Utzinger J, Nqweniso S, Walter C. Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Weight Status, and Body Composition among South African Primary Schoolchildren. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191811836. [PMID: 36142108 PMCID: PMC9517541 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Background: Over the past decades, childhood overweight has increased in many African countries. We examined the relationship between sedentary behaviour, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body composition in South African primary schoolchildren living in peri-urban settings. Methods: MVPA was measured via 7-day accelerometry and body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis in 1090 learners (49.2% girls, Mage = 8.3 ± 1.4 years). The relationships between MVPA and sedentary behaviour with the various body composition indicators (body fat and fat-free mass [total, truncal, arms, and legs], bone mass, muscle mass, and body water) were tested with mixed linear regressions. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 9.8% and 6.6%, respectively; 77.1% of the children engaged in ≥60 min of MVPA/day. Girls were more likely to be overweight/obese, to accumulate less than 60 min of MVPA/day, and had significantly higher relative body fat than boys (ps < 0.001). Lower MVPA was associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight/obese, higher relative body fat, and lower relative fat-free mass, bone mass, muscle mass, and body water (ps < 0.001). For lower sedentary behaviour, the associations with body composition pointed in the opposite direction. Conclusions: In this South African setting, girls are a particularly relevant target group for future physical activity interventions to prevent overweight/obesity-related non-communicable diseases in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Gerber
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-61-207-4783
| | - Christin Lang
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Beckmann
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosa du Randt
- Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Kurt Z. Long
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Müller
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Madeleine Nienaber
- Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Pühse
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Siphesihle Nqweniso
- Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Walter
- Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 7700, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
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Gerber M, Lang C, Beckmann J, du Randt R, Gall S, Seelig H, Long KZ, Ludyga S, Müller I, Nienaber M, Nqweniso S, Pühse U, Steinmann P, Utzinger J, Walter C. How are academic achievement and inhibitory control associated with physical fitness, soil-transmitted helminth infections, food insecurity and stunting among South African primary schoolchildren? BMC Public Health 2021; 21:852. [PMID: 33941121 PMCID: PMC8091717 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10779-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular fitness has been associated with both executive function and academic achievement in multiple cohort studies including children and adolescents. However, research is scarce among children from low- and middle-income countries. Hence, this paper focuses on South African primary schoolchildren living in marginalized areas and examines if academic achievement and inhibitory control can be explained by children's age, socioeconomic status, soil-transmitted helminth infections, food insecurity, stunting, grip strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 1277 children (48% girls, mean age: 8.3 years). Data were assessed via questionnaires, stool samples, anthropometric measurements, 20 m shuttle run test, grip strength test, Flanker task, and school grades. Data were analysed with mixed linear regression models with random intercepts for school classes, separately for boys and girls. RESULTS Higher socioeconomic status was most closely associated with academic achievement among boys (p < 0.05), whereas higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and not being stunted explained most variance in academic achievement in girls (p < 0.05). Higher age turned out to be associated with better performance in the Flanker task (p < 0.01). Additionally, in boys, higher grip strength was associated with better information processing and inhibitory control of attention (p < 0.01), whereas in girls, higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels were positively associated with these cognitive abilities (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Academic performance has been shown to be compromised in schoolchildren living in marginalised areas, compared to schoolchildren in less disadvantaged parts of South Africa. The present study suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness and grip strength are two potentially modifiable factors that are associated with children's academic achievement and cognitive performance, and that should be targeted in future school-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Gerber
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Christin Lang
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Beckmann
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosa du Randt
- Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Stefanie Gall
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Harald Seelig
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kurt Z Long
- Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Ludyga
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Müller
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Uwe Pühse
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, St. Jakob-Turm, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cheryl Walter
- Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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