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Physical activity and obesity in children with congenital cardiac disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2011

Trenda D. Ray ,
Angela Green  and
Karen Henry
Trenda D. Ray*
Affiliation:
Ambulatory Care Services, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
Angela Green
Affiliation:
Ambulatory Care Services, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
Karen Henry
Affiliation:
Ambulatory Care Services, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: Trenda Ray, PhD, APN, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, Slot 721, Little Rock 72205-7199, Arkansas, USA. Tel: (office) 526-6990, ext. 8767; Fax: 501-686-5694; E-mail: raytd@archildrens.org; trendamail@gmail.com
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

Body Mass Indexpediatricexercise
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , 28 October 2011 , pp. 603 - 607
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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