Associations between physical activity, nutritional behaviour and cardiovascular risk among primary schoolchildren in Taabo, Côte d’Ivoire

Background: The dual burden of unfavourable dietary habits and increasingly sedentary lifestyle in urban communities of sub-Saharan Africa has increased dramatically. The aim of this master’s thesis was to investigate the activity levels and nutritional behaviour of primary schoolchildren in Taabo and to assess potential correlations with early onset of cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods: Data of 557 children (302 girls, 255 boys, average age: 8.12 years) was analysed in a cross-sectional manner. Physical activity was measured utilizing a motion sensor, while fitness was assessed using a shuttle run test. Nutritional behaviour was assessed through a recall questionnaire. Cardiovascular health markers were analysed employing anthropometric data, blood pressure measurements and blood sample testing. A clustered cardiovascular risk score (CVRS) was created for investigation purposes. Data were analysed using correlations and one-way analyses of variance as well as multiple linear regressions.
Results: Higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with lower body fat. Higher estimated aerobic capacity (VO2max) was associated with lower body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Higher sedentary time was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein and glycated haemoglobin. No profound associations between the examined cardiovascular health markers and nutritional behaviour were identified. A higher CVRS was associated with lower VO2max.
Conclusions: The data strongly suggests that MVPA has important benefits in counteracting the development of individual cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, our results corroborate the current notion that physical fitness plays an important role in preventing the development of unfavourable health predispositions in children.