BackgroundSufficient daily physical activity (PA) is necessary for physical, social and mental health benefits during growth. Most of the available data on children is based on subjective reports, while only limited data on objective PA and sedentary levels is available for primary school children. Increased PA is also an important health indicator of body composition parameters, especially body adiposity indices. The aim of the present study was to determine objectively the amount of daily PA levels at different intensities and sedentary time in normal-weight (NW) and overweight (OW) 7–9-year-old boys and girls, and to find associations between objectively measured PA levels and sedentary time with different body composition values.MethodsTwo hundred and seventy eight (142 boys and 136 girls) primary school children aged 7.9 ± 0.7 years participated in this study. Objective PA intensity and sedentary levels were measured over 7 days by accelerometry. Indices of total fat mass (body fat %, sum of skinfolds), fat distribution (waist-to-height ratio) and muscular component (fat free mass [FFM]) were calculated from measured anthropometric parameters.ResultsThere were no differences (p > 0.05) in PA intensity levels and sedentary time between boys and girls as well as between NW and OW children. About 11 % of children met the current guidelines of at least 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Sedentary time was positively and negatively associated (p < 0.05) with all body fat and FFM values, respectively. Moderate and vigorous PA along with MVPA were negatively and positively associated (p < 0.05) with all body fat and FFM indices, respectively.ConclusionsThe results of present study showed that about 11 % of primary school children were engaged in PA of at least 60 min of MVPA daily. While MVPA is negatively associated with fat mass indices and positively associated with FFM regardless of different confounders, sedentary time is negatively related to FFM and positively with fat mass values after adjusting for several confounders. These results suggest that higher MVPA level and lower sedentary time level are important in maintaining and developing healthy body composition in primary school children during growth.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical self-perceptions, moderate to vigorous physical activity and physical fitness in Estonian school children and adolescents aged 11–14 years. The sample consisted of 134 boys and 119 girls. Self-perception of body appearance, physical conditioning, sport/athletic competence, strength and general physical self-worth were measured by the Children’s Physical Self-Perception Profile (C-PSPP). Moderate to vigorous physical activity was assessed using 7-day physical activity recall and physical fitness using 20 meter endurance shuttle run. All C-PSPP scales were significantly moderately related with physical activity and fitness in both boys and girls. Boys’ perceptions of strenght competence, physical condition and general self-worth were higher and they participated more in moderate to vigorous activities compared to girls. Multiple regression analysis results indicated the best predictors of moderate to vigorous physical activity and physical fitness were perceived sport/athletic competence, physical self-worth, and perceived strength competence Our results demonstrate that physical self-perceptions are significant correlates of physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents.

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Although MVPA in PE was relatively low and SED high, PE significantly increased daily MVPA and reduced SED, confirming the important role of PE in supporting the healthy development of children.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative contribution of personality and emotional experience to self-reported eating attitudes in a group of patients with clinically diagnosed eating disorders, a weight-reduction training group (Weight Watchers), and a control group without body weight problems. Participants in this study (N = 114) completed Estonian versions of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2; Garner, 1991), NEO Personality Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1989), and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, Expanded Form (Watson & Clark, 1994). Data demonstrated validity of the Estonian version of EDI-2 in its ability to identify problems on a continuum of disordered eating behavior. Among the Big Five personality dimensions, Neuroticism made the largest contribution to EDI-2 subscales. Two other dimensions, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness, also predispose individuals to eating problems. Personality traits made a larger contribution to the self-reported eating pathology than the self-rated effects experienced during the last few weeks. It was argued that personality dispositions have a larger relevancy in the etiology of eating disorders than emotional state.