Physical activity and weight status of children in Germany: cross-sectional results from the MoMo Wave 3 (2018–2020)

Abstract

Childhood physical activity (PA) plays a critical role in preventing obesity and supporting overall health. This study investigates the prevalence of weight status categories and their association with organized and unorganized PA among 6- to 17-year-old children in Germany using MoMo Wave 3 (2018–2020). Cross-sectional data from MoMo Wave 3 (2018–2020) were analyzed to examine associations between weight status and PA. A total of 1983 participants (age: 11.6 ± 3.4 years, 52.3% male) completed a questionnaire and had anthropometric measurements taken, including height and weight. Statistical comparisons between normal-weight children and those classified as underweight or overweight based on their body mass index focused on their participation in organized and unorganized PA. Linear and logistic regressions were used for statistical analysis. Among the participants, 3.0% were severely underweight, 5.8% were underweight, 7.2% were overweight, and 4.6% were obese. Participants classified as underweight (ꞵ = −.084; p