Nutritional Status, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Diet, and Lifestyle in Childhood: An Analysis of Respiratory Diseases in Adolescence

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between nutritional status, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet, and lifestyle in childhood with respiratory diseases during adolescence. Methods: Prospective study conducted in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo - Brazil, as part of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE). During childhood, indicators of lifestyle (body composition, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet) and family environment were measured in 2012 and 2013. After five years, participants answered the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases (asthma and/or rhinitis). Analyses were determined by logistic regression. Results: A total of 168 schoolchildren (56% boys) were evaluated, and the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis accounted for 15.5 and 25.6%, respectively. Whole milk consumption (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.24; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.03-1.49), having a television in the bedroom (OR=0.29; 95%CI 0.12-0.71), and attending physical education classes ≥2 times/week (OR=0.30; 95%CI 0.11-0.81) in childhood were associated with the presence of asthma in adolescence. Factors significantly associated with rhinitis were as follows: female participants (OR=2.45; 95%CI 1.20-4.98) and whole milk consumption (OR=1.21; 95%CI 1.04-1.40). Conclusions: Higher consumption of whole milk, not having a television in the bedroom, few physical education classes, and being a girl were factors associated with respiratory diseases. Public policies should be directed toward a healthier lifestyle and the prevention of respiratory diseases.

Exploring the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Childhood Asthma: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Subgroup Analysis

“…The vast majority of the literature suggesting an association between physical activity and asthma in children is based on cross-sectional studies that rely primarily on self-reported physical activity (15,36). However, studies that utilized accelerometers to measure physical activity found little to no association between physical activity and asthma in children (32,33,38). These ndings suggest that the relationship between physical activity and asthma may be more complex than initially thought, with a potential U-shaped association where both very low and very high levels of physical activity could contribute to exacerbating asthma symptoms (18).…”

“…Several factors in uence physical activity (PA) levels in children, including age, diet, access to resources, access to green spaces, and neighborhood walkability (32,36). Notably, children with asthma are less likely to engage in PA (31).…”

“…Seventeen cross-sectional studies (21)(22)(23)(24)(25-29) (15,(30)(31)(32) (33)(34)(35), 4 cohort studies (18, 36-38) and 1 case-control study (39) were included in the systematic review. Table 2 summarizes the characteristics of the studies included in the analysis.…”

“…The age range of participants varied across studies, with some focusing on speci c age groups, such as Marrtje et al ( 2016 Different criteria were used to de ne physical activity (PA) in the studies, such as step count, active time, screen time, time spent in organized sports, and active transport forms (21), or the accumulation of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily (22). Asthma diagnosis also varied among studies, with some using self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma (24,32), while others used criteria such as an asthma diagnosis given by a general practitioner or pediatrician, current asthma symptoms, or reversibility of airway obstruction (21). Criteria such as the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) criteria, International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) criteria, and Asthma Control Test (ACT) were also used to de ne and assess asthma in some studies (41)(42)(43).…”

“…Adjusted variables in the studies included age, sex, BMI, socioeconomic status, and other asthma-related parameters. The results of the studies varied, with some nding no signi cant associations between physical activity and asthma (21), while others reported associations between physical activity and asthma-related outcomes such as asthma symptoms, medication use, and lung function (22,32).…”