Frequency and intensity of physical activity are associated with insulin resistance in First Nations children and adolescents in 2 remote villages in northern British Columbia, Canada

• Main Author: Mitchell, Marc S.
• Other Authors: Gaul, Kathy
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: First Nations; Insulin Resistance; Type 2 Diabetes; Physical Activity; Youth; UVic Subject Index::Sciences and Engineering::Health Sciences; British Columbia; Canada
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/939

Objective: To explore the association of insulin resistance (IR) with direct measures of physical activity (PA). Research methods and procedures: A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in two remote British Columbia coastal First Nations villages. 74 healthy boys and girls (mean = 11.8yrs ± 2.2; range = 8.8-18.5yrs) volunteered to participate. PA was measured with the ActiGraph accelerometer. IR was determined using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Body mass index standardized for age and sex (zBMI) and waist circumference were used to assess total and central adiposity. Results: From the 39 participants with complete data sets, moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was inversely related to HOMA-IR (r = -.45, p<0.01) while total and central adiposity were directly related (r= .44, p<.01 and r=.35, p<.05, respectively). Discussion: These data provide evidence of the important role of PA, particularly MVPA, in improving IR and potentially preventing type 2 diabetes in First Nations youth.