Samoan abstract.

Physical activity is a key component of many obesity prevention strategies. The aim of this analysis was to identify child, family, and household characteristics associated with parent-reported physical activity in Samoan children aged 3–8 years. Children (n = 445; 51.2% female, mean age 5.4 years) were part of an ongoing, mixed-longitudinal study of child growth, development, and wellbeing (the Ola Tuputupua’e cohort). Bivariate analyses and multivariate generalized linear regressions were conducted to investigate the relationship of child, family, and household characteristics with physical activity level, measured using the Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ). Children were classified as being ‘highly active’ if they had NPAQ scores in the 75th percentile or above. Among the n = 111 children classified as ‘highly active’, n = 67 (60.4%) were boys. After adjusting for child, family, and household-level characteristics, hours of child sleep per night was the only variable significantly associated with odds of being highly active. Compared to children who slept less than 9 hours at night, those who slept 10–10.99 hours (OR: 5.97, 95% CI: 2.14–18.13) and 11+ hours (OR: 25.75, 95% CI: 8.14–90.12) had higher odds of being ‘highly active’. Future research should examine the mechanisms driving the relationship between nighttime sleep and physical activity among Samoan children. Intervening on sleep duration and quality may improve physical activity and, in turn, obesity risk in this setting.</div

Logistic regression models of child physical activity on child, family, and household-level characteristics.

Logistic regression models of child physical activity on child, family, and household-level characteristics.</p

Child, family, and household-level characteristics by child sex.

Child, family, and household-level characteristics by child sex.</p

Proportion of highly active children by child, family, and household-level characteristics.

Proportion of highly active children by child, family, and household-level characteristics.</p

Netherland’s Physical Activity Questionnaire response frequency among Samoan children.

Netherland’s Physical Activity Questionnaire response frequency among Samoan children.</p

Inclusivity in global research.

Physical activity is a key component of many obesity prevention strategies. The aim of this analysis was to identify child, family, and household characteristics associated with parent-reported physical activity in Samoan children aged 3–8 years. Children (n = 445; 51.2% female, mean age 5.4 years) were part of an ongoing, mixed-longitudinal study of child growth, development, and wellbeing (the Ola Tuputupua’e cohort). Bivariate analyses and multivariate generalized linear regressions were conducted to investigate the relationship of child, family, and household characteristics with physical activity level, measured using the Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ). Children were classified as being ‘highly active’ if they had NPAQ scores in the 75th percentile or above. Among the n = 111 children classified as ‘highly active’, n = 67 (60.4%) were boys. After adjusting for child, family, and household-level characteristics, hours of child sleep per night was the only variable significantly associated with odds of being highly active. Compared to children who slept less than 9 hours at night, those who slept 10–10.99 hours (OR: 5.97, 95% CI: 2.14–18.13) and 11+ hours (OR: 25.75, 95% CI: 8.14–90.12) had higher odds of being ‘highly active’. Future research should examine the mechanisms driving the relationship between nighttime sleep and physical activity among Samoan children. Intervening on sleep duration and quality may improve physical activity and, in turn, obesity risk in this setting.</div

Samoan translation of the Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Samoan translation of the Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire.</p

Consort diagram of analytic sample.

Physical activity is a key component of many obesity prevention strategies. The aim of this analysis was to identify child, family, and household characteristics associated with parent-reported physical activity in Samoan children aged 3–8 years. Children (n = 445; 51.2% female, mean age 5.4 years) were part of an ongoing, mixed-longitudinal study of child growth, development, and wellbeing (the Ola Tuputupua’e cohort). Bivariate analyses and multivariate generalized linear regressions were conducted to investigate the relationship of child, family, and household characteristics with physical activity level, measured using the Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ). Children were classified as being ‘highly active’ if they had NPAQ scores in the 75th percentile or above. Among the n = 111 children classified as ‘highly active’, n = 67 (60.4%) were boys. After adjusting for child, family, and household-level characteristics, hours of child sleep per night was the only variable significantly associated with odds of being highly active. Compared to children who slept less than 9 hours at night, those who slept 10–10.99 hours (OR: 5.97, 95% CI: 2.14–18.13) and 11+ hours (OR: 25.75, 95% CI: 8.14–90.12) had higher odds of being ‘highly active’. Future research should examine the mechanisms driving the relationship between nighttime sleep and physical activity among Samoan children. Intervening on sleep duration and quality may improve physical activity and, in turn, obesity risk in this setting.</div

Associations of childhood BMI traits with blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin in 6–9-year-old Samoan children

Introduction: Prevalence and risk factors for elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood pressure (BP) are poorly understood among Pacific children. We examined associations of HbA1c and BP in 6–9 year-olds with body mass index (BMI) at ages 2, 5, and BMI velocity between 2–9 years in Samoa.Methods: HbA1c (capillary blood) and BP were measured in n = 410 Samoan children who were part of an ongoing cohort study. Multilevel models predicted BMI trajectory characteristics. Generalized linear regressions assessed associations of childhood characteristics and BMI trajectories with HbA1c and BP treated as both continuous and categorical outcomes. Primary caregiver-reported childhood characteristics were used as covariates.Results: Overall, 12.90% (n = 53) of children had high HbA1c (≥5.7%) and 33.17% (n = 136) had elevated BP. BMI at 5-years and BMI velocity were positively associated with high HbA1c prevalence in males. A 1 kg/m2 per year higher velocity was associated with a 1.71 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.75) times higher prevalence of high HbA1c. In females, higher BMI at 5-years and greater BMI velocity were associated with higher BP at 6–9 years (95% CI: 1.12, 1.40, and 1.42, 2.74, respectively).Conclusion: Monitoring childhood BMI trajectories may inform cardiometabolic disease screening and prevention efforts in this at-risk population.</p

Associations of childhood BMI traits with blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin in 6–9-year-old Samoan children

Introduction: Prevalence and risk factors for elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood pressure (BP) are poorly understood among Pacific children. We examined associations of HbA1c and BP in 6–9 year-olds with body mass index (BMI) at ages 2, 5, and BMI velocity between 2–9 years in Samoa.Methods: HbA1c (capillary blood) and BP were measured in n = 410 Samoan children who were part of an ongoing cohort study. Multilevel models predicted BMI trajectory characteristics. Generalized linear regressions assessed associations of childhood characteristics and BMI trajectories with HbA1c and BP treated as both continuous and categorical outcomes. Primary caregiver-reported childhood characteristics were used as covariates.Results: Overall, 12.90% (n = 53) of children had high HbA1c (≥5.7%) and 33.17% (n = 136) had elevated BP. BMI at 5-years and BMI velocity were positively associated with high HbA1c prevalence in males. A 1 kg/m2 per year higher velocity was associated with a 1.71 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.75) times higher prevalence of high HbA1c. In females, higher BMI at 5-years and greater BMI velocity were associated with higher BP at 6–9 years (95% CI: 1.12, 1.40, and 1.42, 2.74, respectively).Conclusion: Monitoring childhood BMI trajectories may inform cardiometabolic disease screening and prevention efforts in this at-risk population.</p