Findings seen for outdoor play at age 2.5 years and subsequent body mass index at age 7 years<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Outdoor play habits in early preschool years are associated with a lower risk for school-age obesity, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in Acta Paediatrica<\/em>.<\/p>\n Takahiro Tsuge, from the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Okayama University in Japan, and colleagues investigated the association between outdoor play habits during preschool and school-age obesity. The analysis included 42,812 children born in January and July 2001 with data on outdoor play habits at age 2.5 years and parent-reported height and weight at age 7 years (31,743 individuals). <\/p>\n The researchers found that 91 percent of children had outdoor play habits at age 2.5 years. At age 7 years, 10 percent of children were classified as overweight or obese. There was a negative association between outdoor play habits and obesity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.85).<\/p>\n “This study demonstrated that outdoor play habits in early preschool years are associated with a reduced risk of obesity in school-aged children,” the authors write. “Parents and caregivers may consider encouraging their children to outdoor play habits at an early age to help prevent obesity later in life.”<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n