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Does body mass index modify the association between physical activity and screen time with cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents? Findings from a country-wide survey

International Journal of Obesity volume 41, pages 551–559 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) have been associated with cardiometabolic health in youth. However, previous studies are conflicting whether these associations are independent of each other and it is unknown if they are modified by adiposity. We aimed to examine the independent and joint associations between MVPA and ST with cardiometabolic risk across body mass index (BMI) categories.

Methods:

A total of 36 956 Brazilian adolescents (12–17 years) from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents were included. Information on time spent in MVPA and ST were assessed by self-reports. Blood pressure, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and waist circumference were used to calculate a cardiometabolic risk score (sex-age-specific top-risk quintile for each biomarker). Ordered logistic regression was used to examine the associations.

Results:

In final adjusted models, both higher MVPA (proportional odds ratio (POR)=0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67–0.95) and ST (POR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.10–1.37) were independently associated with cardiometabolic risk. After stratification by normal weight vs overweight/obese, the inverse independent association for MVPA remained unchanged, whereas ST was positively associated with cardiometabolic risk only in overweight/obese adolescents (POR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.18–2.22). Participants who met the recommendations for both MVPA and ST had lower odds for cardiometabolic risk, especially if they were overweight/obese (POR=0.46; 95% CI: 0.31–0.68).

Conclusions:

MVPA and ST are independently associated with cardiometabolic risk; the association with ST, however, appears modified by BMI. Normal-weight adolescents should be encouraged to increase MVPA, whereas a combination of increasing MVPA and decreasing ST is recommended in those who are overweight or obese.

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Acknowledgements

ERICA project was supported by Funding Authority for Studies and Projects (FINEP) (grant: 01090421); Brazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) (grants: 565037/2010-2, 405009/2012-7 and 457050/2013-6). FVC is supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) with sandwich PhD scholarship (process: BEX 9556/14-1). KVB (process: 304595/2012-8) and BS (process: 305116/2012-6) were partially supported by CNPq. UE was partly funded by the UK Medical Research Council Grant MC_UU_2015/3 and by the Norwegian Research Council (249932/F20).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Endocrinology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    F V Cureau & B D Schaan

  2. Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Science, Oslo, Norway

    F V Cureau & U Ekelund

  3. Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    U Ekelund

  4. Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    K V Bloch

  5. Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    B D Schaan

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  1. F V Cureau
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Correspondence to F V Cureau.

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Cureau, F., Ekelund, U., Bloch, K. et al. Does body mass index modify the association between physical activity and screen time with cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents? Findings from a country-wide survey. Int J Obes 41, 551–559 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.210

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