Physical activity and low-grade inflammation in children

What is it about?

Persistent low-grade systemic inflammation may promote the development of insulin resistance, tumour growth, neurodegeneration and atherosclerosis and thus increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular diseases. We found that children with higher levels of sedentary time and lower levels of at least moderate intensity physical activity had unhealthier inflammatory profile than their peers with lower levels of sedentary time and who accumulated more physical activity. However, higher body fat percentage was strongly associated with biomarkers of inflammation and body fat percentage also explained all associations of physical activity and sedentary time with those biomarkers. Nevertheless, children with higher body fat percentage and higher levels of vigorous intensity physical activity had healthier inflammation profile than those with higher body fat percentage and lower levels of vigorous intensity physical activity.

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Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The development of non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and dementia, take years and their origin may be already in childhood. Therefore, preventing a persistent low-grade systemic inflammation since childhood may help to battle against the development of those diseases. Because physical activity is a simple and natural way to promote healthy inflammatory profile, actions to support children´s physical activity should be prioritised.

Perspectives