Joint association of birth weight and physical activity/sedentary behavior with obesity in children ages 9-11 years from 12 countries

Abstract

Objective:To examine the joint association of birth weight and physical activity/sedentary time withchildhood obesity in 12 countries.Methods:A cross-sectional study of 5,088 children aged 9 to 11 years was conducted. Birth weight wasrecalled by parents or guardians. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviorwere objectively measured using accelerometry.Results:The association of birth weight with the odds of obesity, central obesity, and high body fat wassignificant among children with either low MVPA or high sedentary time but not among children witheither high MVPA or low sedentary time. In comparison with children with normal birth weight and highMVPA, children with high birth weight and low MVPA showed 4.48- to 5.18-fold higher odds of obesity,central obesity, and high body fat; children with normal birth weight and low MVPA showed 3.00- to3.30-fold higher odds of obesity, central obesity, and high body fat, and children with high birth weightand high MVPA showed 1.16- to 1.68-fold higher odds of obesity, central obesity, and high body fat.Conclusions:High MVPA is more important than high birth weight as a correlate of obesity in children.