Metabolic risk profile of schoolchildren and joint physical activity with an adult in the household: Multilevel analysis

<jats:p>We aim to examine the relationship between metabolic risk (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content>) profile and physical activity (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content>) with an adult within the household. A total of 4761 schoolchildren (54% boys) aged 10–16 years old were categorized as either at high <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content> or low <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content> profile based on their weight and systolic blood pressure status. We assessed the frequency of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with an adult within the household and fitness. Multilevel regressions were used to determine the likelihood of being at <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content> in schoolchildren. The proportion of males and females who engage in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with adults daily was 17.4% and 10.4%, respectively. 16.5% male and 17.2% female did not engage in any <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with adults at all. Compared with those engaging in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> daily with adults in their household, schoolchildren who have reported no such <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> were 54% (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OR</jats:styled-content> 1.54, 95% <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>, 1.07–2.20) likely to have an elevated <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content> profile. Those who sometimes do <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with adult were 25% (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OR</jats:styled-content> 1.25, 95% <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>, 0.82–1.93) more likely to have a higher <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content> profile. After adjusting for <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> and fitness, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with adults remains a determinant of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MR</jats:styled-content> profile in males. Compared with those that reported they daily did, schoolchildren were more likely to be unfit if they either sometimes engaged in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with adults (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OR</jats:styled-content> 2.11, 95% <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>, 1.44–3.09) or never (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OR</jats:styled-content> 2.89, 95% <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>, 1.89–4.43). Joint <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">PA</jats:styled-content> with an adult within household could increase schoolchildren's fitness level and may reduce the risk of metabolic diseases.</jats:p>