Effects of decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing activity on weight change in obese children.

Epstein, Leonard H., Valoski, Alice M., Vara, Linda S., McCurley, James·1995·Health Psychology

Abstract

Obese children 8-12 years old from 61 families were randomized to treatment groups that targeted increased exercise, decreased sedentary behaviors, or both (combined group) to test the influence of reinforcing children to be more active or less sedentary on child weight change. Significant decreases in percentage overweight were observed after 4 months between the sedentary and the exercise groups (-19.9 vs. -13.2). At 1 year, the sedentary group had a greater decrease in percentage overweight than did the combined and the exercise groups (-18.7 vs. -10.3 and -8.7) and greater decrease in percentage of body fat (-4.7 vs. -1.3). All groups improved fitness during treatment and follow-up. Children in the sedentary group increased their liking for high-intensity activity and reported lower caloric intake than did children in the exercise group. These results support the goal of reducing time spent in sedentary activities to improve weight loss.

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  1. Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity: Summary Report
    Barlow, Sarah E., and the Expert Committee · 2007 · Pediatrics
  2. Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth.
    Tremblay, Mark S, LeBlanc, Allana G, Kho, Michelle E, Saunders, Travis J, Larouche, Richard, Colley, Rachel C, Goldfield, Gary, Gorber, Sarah · 2011 · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
  3. Reducing Children's Television Viewing to Prevent Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
    Robinson, Thomas N. · 1999 · JAMA
  4. Interventions for treating obesity in children
    Oude Luttikhuis, Hiltje, Baur, Louise, Jansen, Hanneke, Shrewsbury, Vanessa A, O'Malley, Claire, Stolk, Ronald P, Summerbell, Carolyn D · 2009 · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · Retracted
  5. Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth: an update
    Carson, Valerie, Hunter, Stephen, Kuzik, Nicholas, Gray, Casey E., Poitras, Veronica J., Chaput, Jean-Philippe, Saunders, Travis J., Katzmarzyk, Peter T., Okely, Anthony D., Connor Gorber, Sarah et al. · 2016 · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism

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How to cite

Cite CoChat for the checks on this page, and the paper for its own findings.

This page
CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Effects of decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing activity on weight change in obese children. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1037//0278-6133.14.2.109
The paper
Epstein, L. H., Valoski, A. M., Vara, L. S., & McCurley, J. (1995). Effects of decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing activity on weight change in obese children. Health Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037//0278-6133.14.2.109

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