Physical activity and obesity among nine-year-old children with and without chronic health problems, illness, or disabilities in Ireland

Background: Regular engagement in physical activity can help youth control their weight during childhood while decreasing one's chances of developing chronic diseases (e.g., coronary heart disease, diabetes) throughout the lifespan. While numerous studies have explored physical activity participation and weight status among typically developing children, few epidemiological studies utilizing nationally representative data has focused on children with chronic health problems, illness, or disabilities (CHID). Objective: Thus, the primary purpose of this secondary-data analysis was to examine physical activity participation and the prevalence of overweight/obesity among nine-year-old children with CHID in Ireland. Methods: The weighted nationally-represented data for the obesity analysis (N = 6114) and physical activity analysis (N = 6165) were derived from the Growing up in Ireland national study. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between child weight status and likelihood of meeting physical activity guidelines. Children's primary caregiver weight status, child gender, and CHID status were correlates, while estimated household income, reported hours of weekly physical education, and locale were covariates. Results: Children with CHID had significantly higher odds (1.51, 95% CI 1.19–1.91) of being classified as overweight/obese compared to peers without CHID, when controlling for locale, income, and weekly physical education hours. Conversely, having a CHID was not significantly associated with the odds of children meeting recommended physical activity guidelines. Conclusions: Children with CHID had significantly higher odds of being overweight/obese, and these odds increased if the child had a primary caregiver who was overweight/obese. Physical activity levels did not differ between children with and without CHID.