Physical activity and obesity in children with congenital cardiac disease

BACKGROUND: Children with congenital cardiac disease experience challenges in developing healthy patterns of physical activity due to decreased exercise capacity and parental fear and confusion about what is permissible. The purpose of this study was to describe physical activity habits in children 10-14 years of age with congenital cardiac disease and the relationship of those habits to obesity as defined by body mass index. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used self-report measures and clinical data to describe the association between physical activity participation and body mass index in 10- to 14-year-old children with congenital cardiac disease. Further, physical activity levels were compared between children who were overweight or obese and those who were not. RESULTS: Children (n = 84; 51 males; 33 females) reported low rates of physical activity compared to reports on healthy children. Only 9.5% were overweight (body mass index between the 85th and 94th percentile), and alarmingly 26% were obese (body mass index at or above the 95th percentile). Physical activity and body mass index were not significantly correlated (r = -0.11, p = 0.45) and there was no significant difference in mean physical activity (t = 0.67) between children who were overweight or obese and those who were not. CONCLUSIONS: Children in this study reported low rates of physical activity and a higher obesity rate than was reported in previous studies. However, the two were not significantly correlated. Further research is indicated to determine the specific factors contributing to obesity and to test interventions to combat obesity in children with congenital cardiac disease.