Physical activity and sedentary lifestyle in children with type 1 diabetes: a multicentre Italian study.

Department of Paediatrics, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis 2011 Aug

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Regular Physical Activity (RPA) is one of the cornerstones of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) therapy, but conflicting results are reported in the literature. To compare (RPA) and Sedentary Lifestyle (SL) among children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and healthy peers. Seven Italian paediatric diabetes centres enrolled 129 children with T1D and 214 healthy peers who were interviewed by a telephone questionnaire on physical activity level, sedentary lifestyle and clinical data. Compared to healthy peers, children with T1D: performed the same amount of RPA, were more frequently engaged in team sports (p = 0.018), described RPA as an enjoyable activity (p = 0.033), not boring (p = 0.035), a chance to spend time with peers (p = 0.033) and to meet new friends (p = 0.016). Children with T1D were finally used to consume less snacks during watching TV (p < 0.001) or after physical activity (p < 0.001 ). HbA1c values were not related with time spent in physical activity, in watching TV or in playing video-games. Most interviewed children with T1D are physically active and perform the same amount of exercise as their healthy peers. They demonstrate to consider RPA a source of enjoyment and sociality and not a therapeutic imposition. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Citation

Valentina Fainardi, Chiara Scarabello, Antonia Cangelosi, Lavinia Fanciullo, Carla Mastrorilli, Cosimo Giannini, Angelika Mohn, Dario Iafusco, Alfonso La Loggia, Fortunato Lombardo, Sonia Toni, Giuliana Valerio, Adriana Franzese, Franco Prisco, Francesco Chiarelli, Maurizio Vanelli. Physical activity and sedentary lifestyle in children with type 1 diabetes: a multicentre Italian study. Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis. 2011 Aug;82(2):124-31