Physical activity and sedentary behaviors associated with overweight and obesity among primary school children in Tanzania: a case-control study
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Emerald
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims at determining the risk of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors on
overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 10–13 years in Tanzania.
Design/methodology/approach – A case-control study was conducted from January to March 2020 involving
69 overweight/obese children as cases and 138 normal weight children as controls. Cases were identified as having body
mass index-for-age þ1 standard deviation (SD) and controls as those having BMI-for-age range between 2 SD
to <þ1 SD. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection on daily physical activities and sedentary behavior
types, frequency duration and activity score. An independent sample t-test was used to compare means of activity score
between cases and controls. Binary logistic regression was used to predict risk factors for overweight/obesity.
Findings – Risk factors for overweight/obesity were listening to music and/or radio for >2 h/week (OR 2.7,
95% CI 1.2–6.1) and walking for exercise <2 h/week (OR 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–4.1). On the
other hand, rope skipping for >2 h/week (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03–0.7) was a protective factor against
overweight/obesity. Controls had a significantly higher mean score of being active during lunch breaks
compared to cases (p = 0.012). Cases had higher weight, height and percentage body fat than controls (p <
0.001). The home environment provided more avenues for physical activity than the school environment.
Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is original research work and the first case-
control study to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight and obesity
in Tanzanian school children.
Description
Research paper on Nutrition & Food Science, 52(5), 765-777.
Keywords
Tanzania, Physical activity, Case-control, Sedentary behavior, Overweight, Obesity, School children, Cases, Controls
Citation
DOI 10.1108/NFS-09-2021-0273