Inequality in physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep duration and risk of obesity in children: a 12-country study

Abstract

Studies examining associations between movement behaviors (i.e. physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep duration) and obesity focus on average values of these movement behaviors, despite important within-country and between-country variability. A better understanding of movement behavior inequalities is important for developing public health policies and behavior-change interventions. The objective of this ecologic analysis at the country level was to determine if inequality in movement behaviors is a better correlate of obesity than average movement behavior volume in children from all inhabited continents of the world.