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Epidemiology and Population Health

Are reallocating time to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity associated with preschoolers’ body composition?

International Journal of Obesity volume 50, pages 221–228 (2026)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To use compositional data analysis to examine the associations of daily movement behaviors with body composition, and to predict changes in body composition after reallocating time among behaviors in preschool-aged children.

Methods

268 preschoolers were included in the cross-sectional study. An accelerometer was used to assess sedentary behavior (SB), light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (LPA and MVPA). A parental report was used to collect sleep time. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was employed to assess body composition. Compositional linear regression analysis was employed to explore how daily movement behaviors were associated with body composition. Compositional isotemporal substitution analysis was employed to estimate changes in body composition after reallocating time among behaviors.

Results

24-h movement behaviors composition significantly predicted fat-free mass index (FFMI), soft lean mass index (SLMI), and skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), but not fat mass index, percent body fat, and bone mineral content index. The compositional isotemporal substitution analyses consistently showed that increasing MVPA at the expenses of SB was positively associated with FFMI (+0.328 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.063~0.593), SLMI (+0.317 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.067~0.567), and SMMI (+0.254 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.091~0.417). These associations were asymmetrical: the predicted benefits to body composition from substituting SB with MVPA were smaller than the predicted detriments related to decreasing MVPA of the same magnitude.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the importance of MVPA in improving preschoolers’ body composition. Increasing MVPA at the expenses of SB may be a strategy to improve body composition in preschoolers.

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Fig. 1: Asymmetry in predicted changes in body composition when reallocating time from or to MVPA.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and with permission from all involved institutions.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to sincerely thank the contributions of all the participants and research staff of the study. No financial compensation was provided. Special thanks should be given to Prof. Jian Wang for his kindly and helpful guidance on this project.

Funding

This work was supported by Beijing Finance Bureau (CIP2024-0040); Open Project Fund from Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, China (MEKLCEPP/SXMU-202408); Beijing Postdoctoral Research Foundation; Beijing Chaoyang District Postdoctoral Research Foundation; and Supported by New Quality Fund of Capital Institute of Pediatrics (XZDX-2025-007). The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Capital Center for Children’s health, Capital Medical University, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China

    Zhaoxu Lu, Jin Guo, Yihua Bao, Wei Chen, Jiahui Chang, Shan Wang, Hongyan Guan, Jianxin Wu, Fang Wang & Ting Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China

    Zhaoxu Lu

  3. Xianghe Health Guidance Center, Xianghe County health Bureau, Xianghe, China

    Chuo Zhao

  4. School of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China

    Haowen Zhang

  5. Beijing Dongcheng District Dongsiwu Tiao Kindergarten, Beijing, China

    Yanpeng Ni

  6. Jinding Street Kindergarten, Shougang Preschool Education Center, Beijing, China

    Jianwei Li & Xiaolin Zhou

  7. Chunjiang Kindergarten, Beijing, China

    Di Heng

  8. Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Jianxin Wu

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  1. Zhaoxu Lu
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  2. Jin Guo
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Contributions

WF conceptualized and designed the study, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. WS, GH, GJ, and BY contributed to study design and critically review and revise the manuscript. LZ conceptualized and designed the study, acquired study funding, coordinated and supervised data collection, carried out the initial analyses, drafted the initial manuscript, and critically review and revise the manuscript. CJ, ZC, CW, and ZH collected data, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. NY, LJ, ZX, and HD collected data, coordinated and supervised data collection, and critically reviewed the manuscript. ZT and WJ conceptualized and designed the study, acquired study funding, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jianxin Wu or Fang Wang.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ethical approval, in adherence to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics (NO. SHERLL2021069).

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Lu, Z., Guo, J., Bao, Y. et al. Are reallocating time to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity associated with preschoolers’ body composition?. Int J Obes 50, 221–228 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01939-7

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