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  • Letter to the Editor
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Reply to Wardle J et al. School-based physical activity and changes in adiposity

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, page 577 (2008)Cite this article

The article by Jane Wardle et al.1 on the relationship between adiposity and PE time in schools uses a longitudinal design and a large number of children to monitor changes in body mass index and adiposity (waist circumference) over 5 years according to provision of PE time in 34 different schools. It reports no differences in body mass index, but lower gains in waist circumference among higher PE schools, and commends the benefits to obesity prevention of increasing timetabled physical activity.

Although model in many ways, the study does not measure physical activity, and cannot comment either on its association with adiposity or on the benefits of increasing it. PE time is a notoriously poor measure of physical activity undertaken (because compliance in children is so variable), and there may be other factors—behavioural or biological—that influence activity both in and out of school.

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References

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  1. University Medicine, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK

    T Wilkin

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  1. T Wilkin
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Correspondence to T Wilkin.

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Wilkin, T. Reply to Wardle J et al. School-based physical activity and changes in adiposity. Int J Obes 32, 577 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803756

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