The influence of physical activity on body composition in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder

• Main Authors: Ya-Yun Ku, 辜雅筠
• Other Authors: Shwn-Jen Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/01035884156914897233

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 物理治療暨輔助科技學系 === 98 === Background: Body composition is an important indicator of health. Previous studies showed higher rates of overweight and obesity in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in typically developed children, but this has not been investigated in Taiwan. It is generally recognized that the amount of physical activity (PA) is related to body composition, but recent study proposed the amount of low-moderate intensity physical activity had more influence on the body composition in children. A few foreign studies showed amounts of PA in ADHD were more than those in typically developed children, but the amounts of various types of PA are unknown. It’s also lack of studies investigate the influence of various types of PA on body composition in children with ADHD. Objective: To compare the body composition and PA between children with ADHD and typically development, and to investigate the influence of various types of PA on body composition in children with ADHD. Methods: This study recruited 55 children with ADHD and 56 typically developed children. Body composition variables included weight-for-length index(WLI), body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, waist-hip ratio(WHR), skinfold thickness and percents of body fat. PA of each subject was recorded by parents and teachers using a validated PA questionnaire for seven days. Other basic data were collected by a questionnaire. Adjusted total PA (awake time minus sedentary PA) and adjusted low intensity PA (awake time minus sedentary PA and moderate-vigorous PA) were calculated for each subject. Independent t test was used to analyze the group differences in body composition. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare PA between two groups. Univariate analysis was used to find out main influencing factors of body composition, and multiple regression was used to investigate the influence of PA on body composition. Results: WLI, BMI, waist circumference, skinfold thickness and percents of body fat in subjects with ADHD were significantly more than those with typically development. Duration of adjusted total PA and adjusted low intensity PA (LPA) were lower and duration of sedentary PA were higher in subjects with ADHD as compared to those with typically development. Multivariate analysis showed PA and other influencing factors of body composition collected in this study could explain 12.3~37.1% of variance of body composition in subjects with ADHD, in which adjusted total PA and adjusted LPA were significant predictors of BMI and WHR and sedentary PA was a significant predictor of WHR (p<0.05). Conclusions: Children with ADHD who participate more LPA and less sedentary PA tended to develop better body composition.