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Background: The rising prevalence of obesity in children may be due to a reduction in physical activity (PA). Objective: Our aim was to study the associations of objectively measured PA volume and its subcomponents with indicators of body fatness. Design: A cross-sectional study of 129:2 children aged 9-10 y from 4 distinct regions in Europe (Odense, Denmark; the island of Madeira, Portugal; Oslo; and Tartu, Estonia) was conducted. PA was measured by accelerometry, and indicators of body fatness were the sum of 5 skinfold thicknesses and body mass index (BMI; in kg/[m.sup.2]). We examined the associations between PA and body fatness by using general linear models adjusted for potential confounding variables. Results: After adjustment for sex, study location, sexual maturity, birth weight, and parental BMI, time (min/d) spent at moderate and vigorous PA (P = 0.032) and time (rain/d) spent at vigorous PA were significantly (P = 0.015) and independently associated with body fatness. Sex, study location, sexual maturity, birth weight, and parental BMI explained 29% (adjusted [R.sup.2] = 0.29) of the variation in body fatness. Time spent at vigorous PA explained an additional 0.5%. Children who accumulated 2 h/d. Conclusions: The accumulated amount of time spent at moderate and vigorous PA is related to body fatness in children, but this relation is weak; the explained variance was < 1%. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:584-90. KEY WORDS Accelerometry, adiposity, children, energy expenditure, physical activity, skinfold thickness, European Youth Heart Study

Sarah plays first flute in her high school band. While preparing for an audition for a full-tuition university scholarship, she increases her practice time from one hour to three or [...]

Research findings show that reliable estimates of physical activity behavior of children and adolescents can be monitored with a seven day monitoring protocol. Data also enable to assess differences between weekend versus weekday activity behavior and activity patterns within a given day.

The study shows that exercise augments the effect of diet in the short-term treatment of pediatric obesity. Implications of the findings in improving treatments for obesity and comorbid conditions in childhood are presented.

School physical education (PE), which is highly recommended as a means of promoting physical activity and randomized studies of health related PE interventions in middle school is investigated. A standardized program increased moderate to vigorous physical activity in middle schools without requiring an increase in frequency of PE lessons.

NEW YORK -- The fourth report of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on Hypertension Control in Children and Adolescents will define blood pressure in the 90th-95th [...]

A study of 20 schools revealed that students were only active 8.6 percent of the time, or 10.4 minutes out of 140 minutes per week. Parents should encourage schools to provide children with more exercise, and parents should be active themselves., Your child's gym class is flunking out Feel like doing nothing? Then just take part in one of your kid's P.E. classes. A survey of fifth-grade physical education classes found [...]

The Institute for Aerobics Research encourages children to get involved in active exercise for healthy hearts. Parental involvement, encouragement and a spirit of fun help motivate children.