Food Intake Compared to Exercise Association with Obesity in Children Ages 3–6

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity affects 19.3% of children ages 2 to 19 years in the US, and 25.6% of Hispanic children. Study objectives were to (1) assess the feasibility of monitoring physical activity and daily caloric intake in children ages 3 to 6 years, (2) assess whether known obesity risk factors apply to this age-group, and (3) explore the factors that may contribute to the higher prevalence of obesity in Hispanic preschooler. Methods: Children ages 3 to 6 years were recruited at well child visits (n = 37, 65% male, 30% Hispanic). Parents completed a questionnaire (child’s physical activity and screen time) along with a detailed dietary assessment. Children were provided with a fitness tracker worn for 5 days. Fisher’s exact test, t test/Wilcoxon rank sum tests were conducted. Results: Thirty-four (92%) participants produced usable activity data. Baseline dietary recall was completed by 35 (97%) of the parents and 25 (68%) completed the second unassisted dietary recall. Mean body mass index of the study sample was 60th percentile, 12 (32%) classified as overweight/obese. Children with overweight/obesity showed no significant difference in mean daily calories compared with those without (1403.9 vs 1406.1 Kcal/day, P = .980) or daily hours of screen time (1.5 6 1.1 vs 1.7 6 0.8, P = .442). Children with overweight/obesity had fewer mean daily steps compared with those without overweight/obesity (8038 6 2685 vs 10038 6 2599 P = .051). Discussion: Findings indicate that pedometer activity tracking can be used in children 3 to 6 years old and that decreased physical activity correlates more closely to preschool overweight/obesity than caloric intake.