A comparative analysis of an average versus daily 60 min of physical activity on cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents: a NHANES study

Objective To examine differences in sedentary time, anthropometric and cardiometabolic variables between children and adolescents who meet moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines by averaging 60 min/day ( average group) versus engaging in at least 60 min daily ( daily group). Methods Data from 724 children and adolescents ( average group = 371, daily group = 353) aged 6–17 years, with at least six valid days of accelerometer data from the 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, were analyzed. Design-based (survey-weighted) regression was used to compare the two groups, unadjusted and adjusted for sex and age. Results Youth in the daily group showed higher MVPA levels (125 ± 2.5 vs. 84 ± 1.8 min/day, p < 0.01) and lower sedentary time (322 ± 4.6 vs. 368 ± 5.3 min/day, p < 0.01), BMI (17.0 ± 0.2 vs. 18.5 ± 0.3 kg/m 2 , p < 0.01) and waist circumference (59.9 ± 0.6 vs. 66.1 ± 0.9 cm, p < 0.01) compared to the average group. However, no significant differences were found between groups for cardiometabolic variables. After adjusting for sex and age, the differences in BMI ( p = 0.37) and waist circumference ( p = 0.11) were no longer significant. Conclusions Although the daily group engaged in ~50% more MVPA, no significant differences in cardiometabolic outcomes were observed. Thus, adopting the term “on average” in the guidelines may reduce barriers and help more youth meet physical activity recommendations.