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Table 3 Overview of relevant characteristics and results of the included studies that involved adolescent participants

From: Comparison of accelerometer measured levels of physical activity and sedentary time between obese and non-obese children and adolescents: a systematic review

Referencea

Place & time

Study design

Sample group

Comparison group

Measurement

Accelerometer cut off points

Findings

Meet 60 min/day of MVPA (%) and Author Conclusions

Butte et al. [34]

United States, 2007

Cross sectional study

n: 473 (247 boys, 226 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 95th centile

n: 424 (194 boys, 230 girls) participants with BMI <95th centile

Actiwatch, worn on the right hip for 24 h for 3 consecutive days

Epoch = 1 min

Obese spent mean of (boys 88 (SD 50) and girls 74 (SD 46) min/day) on MVPA

62% of all participants (obese and comparison group) achieved an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 10.8 (SD 3.8) years

Age: mean 10.8 (SD 3.8) years

MVPA and sedentary time cut-points not clearly reported.

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 96 (SD 57) and girls 79 (SD 57) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA was lower in obese than comparison group but not significant

Obese group spent mean of (boys 357 (SD 118) and girls 345 (SD 122) min/day) sedentary

Sedentary time was significantly higher in obese than comparison group (P = 0.001)

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 305 (SD 121) and girls 308 (SD 131) min/day) sedentary

 

Chung et al. [36]

United States, 2012

Data of NHANES 2003–04 and 2005–06) surveys

n: 185 (92 boys, 93 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥95th to 99th centile

n: 987 (489 boys, 498 girls) participants with BMI ≥ 5th to 85th centile

Actigraph 7164 worn on the right hip for 7 consecutive days during waking hours

Epoch = 1 min

Obese group spent mean of (boys 34 (SD 4) and girls 16 (SD 4) min/day) on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: range 12 to 17 years

Age: range 12 to 17 years

MVPA used Freedson cut-point (61)

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 40 (SD 3) and girls 22 (SD 2) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.05)

Decelis et al. [47]

Malta, 2012

Cross sectional study

n: 34/187 (19 boys, 15 girls) obese participants with BMI defined according to the IOTF criteria

n: 106/187 (53 boys, 53 girls) participants with BMI defined as non-overweight and non-obese according to the IOTF criteria

Actigraph GT3X, worn on right hip for 5 days during waking hours

Epoch not defined

Obese group spent mean of (boys 30 (SD 13) and girls 19 (SD 8) min/day) on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: range 11 to 12 years

Age: range 11 to 12 years

MVPA ≥2912 cpm

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 44 (SD 16) and girls 26 (SD 9) min/day) on MVPA

11% of the comparison group achieved an average of 60 min/day MVPA

Sedentary time ≤ 727 cpm

Obese group spent mean of (boys 638 (SD 95) and girls 619 (SD 106) min/day) sedentary

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.05)

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 654 (SD 93) and girls 664 (SD 93) min/day) sedentary

Sedentary time was higher in obese than comparison group, but not significant

Decelis et al. [48]

Malta, 2014

Cross sectional study

n: 113/810 (59 boys, 54 girls) obese participants with BMI defined according to the IOTF criteria

n: 534/810 (254 boys, 280 girls) participants with BMI defined as non-overweight and non-obese according to the IOTF criteria

Actigraph GT3X, worn on right hip for 5 days during waking hours

Epoch = 10 s

Obese group spent mean of (boys 49 (SD 19) and girls 38 (SD 12) min/day) on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: range 10 to 11 years

Age: range 10 to 11 years

MVPA > 2296 cpm

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 61 (SD 22) and girls 44 (SD 15) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.05)

Sedentary time < 100 cpm

Obese group spent mean of (boys 553 (SD 94) and girls 610 (SD 125) min/day) sedentary

Sedentary time was higher in obese than comparison group, but not significant

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 582 (SD 113) and girls 603 (SD 97) min/day) sedentary

 

Ekelund et al. [45]

Sweden, 2002

Case control, cross sectional design study.

n: 18 (8 boys, 10 girls) obese participants with BMI defined according to the IOTF criteria

n: 18 (8 boys, 10 girls) participants with BMI defined as non-overweight and non-obese according to the IOTF criteria

CSA 7164, worn on lower part of the back (L 4–5) for 14 days

Epoch = 15 s

Obese group spent mean of (boys 58 (SD 30) and girls 60 (SD 28) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.05)

Age: mean (boys 18.1 (SD 1.1), girls 17.3 (SD 1.9) years

Age: mean (boys 18.2 (SD 1.1), girls 17.3 (SD 1.9) years

MVPA cut-points not clearly reported

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 82 (SD 36) and girls 98 (SD 58) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA was similar in obese girls and boys (p < 0.05)

Sedentary time < 100 cpm

Obese group spent mean of (boys 421 (SD 33) and girls 465 (SD 132) min/day) sedentary

Sedentary time was similar in obese and comparison group

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 414 (SD 81) and girls 397 (SD 69) min/day) sedentary

 

Gyllenham-mer et al. [65]

United States, 2013

Cross sectional study

n: 37 obese girls with BMI ≥ 95th centile

No comparison group

Actigraph GT1M, worn on the right hip for 7 consecutive days

Epoch = 1 min

Obese girls spent mean of 28 (SD 18) min/day on MVPA

Obese girls failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 15.5 (SD 1.1) years

MVPA cut-points not clearly reported

Obese participants spent 63% (SD 7) of their waking time sedentary

MVPA was lower in obese girls compared to published data from healthy adolescents

Sedentary time = 100 cpm

Kitzman-Ulrich et al. [31]

United States, 2010

Randomized trial ACT (Active by Choice Today) data at baseline used here

n: 242/669 (98 boys, 144 girls) obese participants with BMI > 95th centile

n: 314/ 669 (138 boys, 176 girls) participants with BMI < 85th centile

Actical, worn on the right hip for 7 days all the day

Epoch = 1 min

Obese participants spent mean of (boys 46 (SD 20) and girls 36 (SD 15) min/day) on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 11.4 (SD 0.7) years

Age: mean 11.4 (SD 0.7) years

MVPA and sedentary time cut-points not clearly reported

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 65 (SD 27) and girls 46 (SD 20) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA level was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.05)

Maggio et al. [64]

Switzerland, 2014

Case control study

n: 24 (12 boys, 12 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 97th centile. “Clinical sample”

n: 25 (12 boys, 13 girls) participants with BMI <90th centile

Actigraph GT1M, worn for at least 4 days

Epoch and MVPA cut-points not clearly reported

Obese participants spent mean of 43 (SD 19) min/day on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 13.9 (SD 1.2) years

Age: mean 13.2 (SD 1.7) years

Sedentary time < 500 cpm

Comparison group spent mean of 58 (SD 30) min/day on MVPA

MVPA was similar in obese girls and boys (p < 0.05)

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (P = 0.01)

Martins et al. [66]

Portugal, 2015

Cross sectional baseline study

n: 131 (48 boys, 83 girls) obese participants with BMI defined according to the IOTF criteria

No comparison group

Actigraph GT3x, worn for 7 consecutive days.

Epoch = 1 mim

Obese participants spent mean of (boys 65 (SD 28) and girls 51 (SD 22) min/day) on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 10.3 (SD 3.6) years

MVPA cut-points not clearly reported

Participants spent mean of (boys 575 (SD 108) and girls 562, (SD 82) min/day) sedentary

MVPA was significantly lower in obese girls than obese boys (p < 0.05)

Sedentary time = 0–100 cpm

MVPA was lower in obese participants compared to published data from healthy children and adolescents

McMurray et al. [67]

United States, 2008

Baseline data of Randomized controlled TAAG “Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls”

n: 184/1021 obese girls with BMI ≥ 95th centile.

n: 645/1021 participants with BMI < 85th centile

Actigraph MTI, worn for 6 consecutive days

Epoch = 30 s

Obese girls spent mean of 21 (SD 2) min/day on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: range 11 to 14 years

Age: range 11 to 14 years

MVPA cut-points not clearly reported.

Comparison group spent mean of 25 (SD 1) min/day on MVPA

MVPA was significantly lower in the obese than the comparison group (p = 0.01)

Page et al. [43]

United Kingdom, 2005

Cross sectional study

n: 25 (14 boys, 11 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 99th centile. “Clinical and non clinical sample”

n: 108 (54 boys, 54 girls) participants with BMI < 99th centile

Actigraph 7164, worn on the waist for 7 consecutive days

Epoch and MVPA cut-points not clearly reported.

Obese participants spent mean of (boys 140 (SD 47) and girls 105(SD 48) min/day) on MVPA

Obese participants exceeded an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 10.5 (SD 0.8) years

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 176 (SD 52) and girls 149 (SD 52) min/day) on MVPA.

MVPA was significantly lower in obese compared to comparison group (p = 0.02)

Peart et al. [68]

United States, 2011

Combined data of cross sectional NHANES (2003–04, 2005–06) surveys

n: 434/2368 (217 boys, 217 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 95 centile

n: 1469/ 2368 (749 boys, 720 girls) participants with BMI < 85th centile

Actigraph 7164, worn on hip over 7 day

Epoch = 1 min

Obese participants spent mean 28 (SD 35) min/day on MVPA

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 15.4 (SD 2.2) years

Age: mean 15.4 (SD 2.2) years

MVPA≥1500 cpm

Comparison group spent mean of 32 (SD 29) min/day on MVPA

MVPA was similar in obese boys and girls

MVPA was lower in obese than comparison group but not significantly (p > 0.05)

Ruiz et al. [46]

10 centers in 9 European countries, 2011

Cross sectional study

n: 104/2200 (45 boys, 59 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 95th centile

n: 1592/2200 (870 boys, 722 girls) participants with BMI < 85th centile

Actigraph GT1M, worn lower back for 7 consecutive days

Epoch = 15 s

Obese participants spent mean of (boys 60 (95%, CI- 53, 68) and girls 44 (95%, CI- 38,50) min/day) on MVPA

MVPA was significantly lower in obese boys than comparison boys group (p = 0.002)

Age: median 14.9 (IQR 12.8 to 15.8) years

Age: median 14.9 (IQR 12.8 to 15.8) years

MVPA ≥2000 cpm

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 67, (95%, CI- 65, 69) and girls 51 (95%, CI- 49,52) min/day) on MVPA

Sedentary time was significantly higher in obese girls than comparison girls group (p = 0.006)

Sedentary time < 100

Obese participants spent of (boys 68% and girls 71%) of their waking time sedentary

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 69% and girls 72%) of their waking time sedentary

Shoup et al. [69]

United States, 2008

Cross sectional study

n: 85 obese participants; BMI ≥ 99th centile

n: 92 participants with BMI ≥85th and <95th centile matched for age

Actigraph 7164, worn on waist for 7 consecutive days.

Epoch and MVPA cut-points not clearly reported.

Obese participants spent mean of 54 (SD 22) min/day on MVPA.

40% (n = 34) of the obese group achieved an average of 60 min/day on MVPA

“Clinical sample”

Comparison group spent mean of 59 (SD 30) min/day on MVPA.

40% (n = 35) of the comparison group achieved 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 10.6 (SD 1.4) years

MVPA was similar in obese and comparison group

St George et al. [29].

United States, 2013

Baseline data of ACT Randomized trial (Active by Choice Today).

n: 484/1422 (203 boys, 281 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 95th centile.

n: 684/1422 (321 boys, 363 girls) participants with BMI < 85th centile.

Actical, worn on the right hip for 7 consecutive days.

Epoch = 1 min

Obese participants spent mean of 37 (SD 22) min/day on MVPA.

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 11.3 (SD 0.6) years

Age: mean 11.4 (SD 0.6) years

MVPA used Puyau cut-point (66).

Comparison group spent mean of 47 (SD 28) min/day on MVPA.

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.01)

Starkoff et al [30].

United States, 2014

Cross sectional study.

n: 16 (5 boys, 11 girls) obese participants with BMI ≥ 95 centile.

No comparison group

Actical, worn on the right hip for 5 days during waking time

Epoch = 1 min

Obese participants spent mean of (boys 26 (SD 36) and girls 19 (SD 17) min/day) on MVPA

12.5% of the obese group achieved an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

“Clinical sample”

Sedentary time and MVPA cut-points not clearly reported

Obese participants spent mean of (boys 731 (SD 110) and girls 726 (SD 98) min/day) on sedentary

MVPA was lower in obese participants compared to published data from healthy adolescents

Age: mean 14.8 (SD 1.5) years.

Thompson et al. [36].

Canada, 2005

Cross sectional study.

n: 171 (93 boys, 78 girls) participants with BMI ≥ 95th centile.

n: 716 (327 boys, 389 girls) participants with BMI ≤ 85th centile.

Actigraph 7164, worn on the hip for 7 consecutive days.

Epoch = 1 min

Obese group spent mean of (boys 53 (SD 26) and girls 48 (SD 25) min/day) on MVPA.

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: range 12 to 16 years

Age: range 12 to 16 years

 

MVPA used Freedson cut-point (61)

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 58 (SD 30) and girls 47 (SD 24) min/day) on MVPA.

Comparison group failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

MVPA was similar in obese and comparison group

Trost et al. [44].

United States, 2001

Cross sectional study.

n: 54 obese participants with BMI ≥ 95th centile.

n: 133 non obese with

CSA 7164, worn on right hip for 7 consecutive days.

Epoch = 1 min

Obese participants spent mean of 70 (SD 6) min/day on MVPA.

Obese participants achieved an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 11.4 (SD 0.6) years.

BMI < 95th centile.

MVPA used Freedson cut-point (61)

Comparison group spent mean of 82 (SD 4) min/day on MVPA.

Comparison group achieved an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 11.4 (SD 0.6) years.

MVPA was significantly lower in obese than comparison group (p < 0.001)

Vanhelst et al. [33].

France, 2013

Cross sectional study.

n: 56 obese participants with BMI ≥ 97th centile.

No comparison group

RT3 worn on right hip up to 21 consecutive days.

Epoch = 1 min

Participants spent mean of 22 (SD 12) min/day on MVPA.

Obese participants failed to achieve an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

“Clinical sample”

MVPA cut-points not clearly reported.

MVPA was lower in obese participants compared to published data from healthy children and adolescents

Age: mean 12.8 (SD 2.9) years.

Sedentary time = 0–40 cpm

Wang et al. [42]

Chine, 2013

Cross sectional “large-scale study”

n: 175/2163 (115 boys, 60 girls) obese participants with BMI defined according to the IOTF criteria.

n: 1709/2163; 808 boys; 901 girls with BMI defined as non-overweight, non-obese according to the IOTF criteria

ActiGraph GT3X, worn on right hip for 7 consecutive days

Epoch = 1 min

Obese group spent mean of (boys29 (SD 18) and girls 24 (SD 13) min/day) on MVPA

7% of the obese boys achieved an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Age: mean 13.41 (SD 2.25) years.

Age: mean 13.41 (SD 2.25) years.

MVPA cut-points not clearly reported

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 35(SD 19) and girls 22 (SD 14) min/day) on MVPA

10%, 2% of the comparison boys and girls respectively achieved an average of 60 min/day of MVPA

Sedentary time < 100 cpm

Obese group spent mean of (boys 480 (SD 107) and girls 490 (SD 89) min/day) sedentary

MVPA was similar in obese and comparison groups

Comparison group spent mean of (boys 521 (SD 113) and girls 533, (SD 103) min/day) sedentary

Sedentary time was similar in obese and comparison groups

  1. BMI: body mass index; cpm: counts per minutes; IOTF: International Obesity Task Force criteria; MVPA: moderate- vigorous physical activity; n: Number; S: Second, Data are expressed as mean, (SD) unless otherwise. Freedson MVPA cutpoint (61) using the following equation: METS = 2.757 + (0.0015 x counts/min) – (0.08957 x age (yr)) – (0.000038 x counts/min x age (yr)). aStudies are listed in alphabetic order