The Relationship between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Atherogenic Index in Primary School Children

Subject Areas : Physiology of exercise

Masoud Shakki ¹ , Reza Rezaishirazi ² , ُSaeed Ghorbani ³ , Neda Aghaei Bahman Beglo ⁴

1 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ali.C., Islamic Azad University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran
2 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ali.C., Islamic Azad University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran
3 - Department of Physical Education, Isl.C., Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr, Iran
4 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ali.C., Islamic Azad University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran.

Received: 2025-06-09 Accepted : 2025-07-13 Published : 2025-07-21

Keywords: physical Activity, Inactivity, Accelerometer, Atherogenic Index ,

Abstract :

Objective: Physical activity is an important factor in the physical and psychosocial health of children and is also an important aspect in the prevention of obesity. Improving physical activity and mobility in children is associated with improved academic performance and also reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in later life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and the atherogenic index in elementary school children.

Methods: The present study was conducted in Aliabad Katul city and a descriptive-correlation method was used for this purpose. The sample size was 420 elementary school boys who were selected by convenience sampling. The ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer and Pars Azmoun biochemistry kit were used to measure the physical activity pattern and the atherogenic index. Correlation test was used to analyze the data.

Results: Accelerometer data showed that the participants spent 65.36% of their total time sedentary. They also devoted only 54.8% of their total time to moderate to vigorous physical activity, with the average duration of moderate to vigorous daily physical activity of the participants being 51.48 minutes per day. Inactivity time had a direct and significant relationship with the atherogenic index (P < 0.001, r = 0.202). There was also a significant inverse relationship between the duration of moderate to vigorous daily physical activity and the atherogenic index (P < 0.001, r = -0.213).

Conclusions: The results of the study showed that children who met the World Health Organization guidelines for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day had a lower atherogenic index than children who did not meet the World Health Organization guidelines.

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