Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to explore association between muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) days and weight status in Chinese children and adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional data of 67,281 Chinese adolescents aged 10–17 years (mean age = 13.0 years, 51.9% males) was collected usi...

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Main Authors: Huadong Su, Xinli Chi, Hui Li, Songjian Du, Jin Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23556-9
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author Huadong Su
Xinli Chi
Hui Li
Songjian Du
Jin Yan
author_facet Huadong Su
Xinli Chi
Hui Li
Songjian Du
Jin Yan
author_sort Huadong Su
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to explore association between muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) days and weight status in Chinese children and adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional data of 67,281 Chinese adolescents aged 10–17 years (mean age = 13.0 years, 51.9% males) was collected using online questionnaires. Validated questionnaires were used to collected data on variables (days of MES and weight status, sociodemographic characteristics) of interest in this study. The Chinese Children and Adolescents Weight Status Workforce Standard was used to categorize weight status into three groups: non-overweight/obesity, overweight, and obesity. A series of multilevel generalized linear models were used to analyse associations between days of MSE and weight status. Results were presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results In total, 34,909 boys (51.9%) and 32,372 girls (48.1%), respectively, were included in the current study. In the overall sample, those who engaged in MSE for 2 or more days had lower odds of overweight and obesity (p for trend < 0.001; OR for 2 days: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.84–0.93; OR for 3 days: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86–0.96; OR for 4 days: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.74–0.85; OR for 5 days: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.76–0.88; OR 6 days: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.60–0.79; OR for 7 days: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.66–0.77). The associations between MSE and weight status were more pronounced in boys and younger participants. However, there was no clear pattern between MSE days and weight status among high school students. Results on subgroup analyses showed inverse associations between days of engaging in MSE per week and overweight and obesity in those not meeting the physical activity guidelines, except for girls (p = 0.179) and high school students (p = 0.449). Conclusions More days of MSE participation may be a protective factor that can prevent or control overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. However, given the study limitations in nature, future studies are recommended to confirm the association between MSE and weight status.
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spelling doaj-art-db88b9ed776644c5aa98265e754d38c02025-08-20T04:02:44ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23556-9Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participantsHuadong Su0Xinli Chi1Hui Li2Songjian Du3Jin Yan4Future National Fitness Research Institute, Zhejiang Normal UniversitySchool of Psychology, Shenzhen UniversityFuture National Fitness Research Institute, Zhejiang Normal UniversitySchool of Physical Education and Sports Science, Soochow UniversitySchool of Physical Education and Sports Science, Soochow UniversityAbstract Purpose The aim of this study was to explore association between muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) days and weight status in Chinese children and adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional data of 67,281 Chinese adolescents aged 10–17 years (mean age = 13.0 years, 51.9% males) was collected using online questionnaires. Validated questionnaires were used to collected data on variables (days of MES and weight status, sociodemographic characteristics) of interest in this study. The Chinese Children and Adolescents Weight Status Workforce Standard was used to categorize weight status into three groups: non-overweight/obesity, overweight, and obesity. A series of multilevel generalized linear models were used to analyse associations between days of MSE and weight status. Results were presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results In total, 34,909 boys (51.9%) and 32,372 girls (48.1%), respectively, were included in the current study. In the overall sample, those who engaged in MSE for 2 or more days had lower odds of overweight and obesity (p for trend < 0.001; OR for 2 days: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.84–0.93; OR for 3 days: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86–0.96; OR for 4 days: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.74–0.85; OR for 5 days: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.76–0.88; OR 6 days: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.60–0.79; OR for 7 days: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.66–0.77). The associations between MSE and weight status were more pronounced in boys and younger participants. However, there was no clear pattern between MSE days and weight status among high school students. Results on subgroup analyses showed inverse associations between days of engaging in MSE per week and overweight and obesity in those not meeting the physical activity guidelines, except for girls (p = 0.179) and high school students (p = 0.449). Conclusions More days of MSE participation may be a protective factor that can prevent or control overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. However, given the study limitations in nature, future studies are recommended to confirm the association between MSE and weight status.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23556-9Physical activityMuscle-strengthening activityWeight statusSchool-aged student
spellingShingle Huadong Su
Xinli Chi
Hui Li
Songjian Du
Jin Yan
Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants
BMC Public Health
Physical activity
Muscle-strengthening activity
Weight status
School-aged student
title Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants
title_full Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants
title_fullStr Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants
title_full_unstemmed Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants
title_short Are more muscle-strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents? Results from 67,281 participants
title_sort are more muscle strengthening exercise participations associated with weight status in children and adolescents results from 67 281 participants
topic Physical activity
Muscle-strengthening activity
Weight status
School-aged student
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23556-9
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