Keywords
Sedentary behaviour
Body mass index
Schoolchildren
Kinshasa
How to Cite
Abstract
Reduced opportunities for physical activity and excessive screen time promote inactive and sedentary behaviour among schoolchildren, with weight-related consequences that are still poorly documented in Kinshasa. Our study assessed the levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB), as well as their association with body mass index (BMI), in 504 schoolchildren aged 8 to 13 years, randomly selected from two schools. PA and SB were assessed using the CAPAS-Q questionnaire, and BMI was based on objective measurements of weight and height, and interpreted according to WHO growth charts. Analyses were performed using STATA 16.0 and SPSS 25.0 with a statistical significance threshold set at 5%. The prevalence of overweight was 26.4% and obesity was 37.3%. 79.1% have insufficient physical activity (PA), predominantly girls (85.2%) and at Loupiots school (96.6%). Weight loss (WLL) is more pronounced at home and among girls. Body mass index (BMI) is significantly higher at Loupiots. PA practiced at school is associated with a lower BMI, but WLL at home significantly increases it. Multivariate analysis identifies four main predictors of BMI: male sex (β = +0.944), age (β = +0.861), PA at school (β = -0.311), and WLL at home (β = +0.163). These results highlight the need to promote PA at school and reduce WLL at home to help reduce the risk of excess weight among schoolchildren in Kinshasa.
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