More Days, Greater Health: Associations Between Daily MVPA and Cardiometabolic Risk in Youth

Objectives: To examine the associations of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) with cardiometabolic health risks in children and adolescents. We also investigated the differences in MVPA between boys and girls and how the differences in MVPA affect cardiometabolic health.Methods: Pooled data from 21 studies involving children and adolescents aged 3-18 years old from the International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD). MVPA was measured objectively by accelerometry. A Clustered Cardio-Metabolic Risk Score (CCMR) was calculated based on central adiposity, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glucose metabolism indicators.Results: Boys are more active than girls per week in the study. In regression analysis, the MVPA-adjusted models for the fasting blood sample group indicated that CCMR in category 6 was significantly lower than in category 3(t = 2.41, p < .05). The results are similar in the non-fasting blood sample group.Conclusions: MVPA is associated with cardiometabolic health. More MVPA is beneficial for cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.