Physical Activity and BMI Status of School-Age Children in Tamale, Northern
Ghana
Abstract:
Diet and physical activity are principal determinants of nutritional
status and energy balance. Low physical activity has been shown to be one of
the risk factors for development of obesity in children. One's physical activity
as a child is a predictor of physical activity level as an adult. This study
was aimed at describing the type, frequency and duration of physical activity
and their association to BMI-for-age status of school-age children in Tamale.
In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 400 school-age children was selected
from randomly selected schools in Tamale, Ghana. The physical activity questionnaire
for children (PAQ-C) was used to assess physical activity levels. Anthropometric
measurements of age, weight and height were measured and computed to determine
the adiposity status of the children. More than 80% of the studied children
engaged in moderate to heavy type of physical activity. By frequency, 88.3%
of boys and 75% of girls participated in a physical activity at least 2 times
a week. During leisure times, more boys than girls played football and more
girls than boys watched television. A significant proportion of the children
engaged in heavy type of physical activity with increase in age. An overweight/obesity
prevalence of 8.5% was found. A large proportion of the children reported being
in the moderate to heavy type of physical activity. Type, frequency and duration
of physical activity were associated to age. A double burden (overweight vs.
underweight) of malnutrition was found.
How to cite this article
V. Mogre, E.S. Aneyire and E.K. Gyamfi, 2013. Physical Activity and BMI Status of School-Age Children in Tamale, Northern
Ghana. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 12: 484-490.
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