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Mediating effects of body composition between physical activity and body esteem in Hong Kong adolescents: a structural equation modeling approach

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Abstract

This study investigated the mediating role of body mass index (BMI) in the relationship between physical activity and body esteem in adolescents. Nine hundred and five Hong Kong Chinese students aged 12–18 years participated in a cross-sectional study in 2007. Students’ BMI was computed as an indicator of their body composition. Their physical activity level and body esteem were examined using the Physical Activity Rating for Children and Youth (PARCY) and Body Esteem Scale (BES), respectively. Structural equation modelling was used to investigate the mediating effects of BMI and physical activity in predicting body esteem, with stratification by sex. The overall fit of the hypothesized models was satisfactory in boys (NFI = 0.94; NNFI = 0.88; CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.07) and girls (NFI = 0.89; NNFI = 0.77; CFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.11). When BMI was considered as a mediator, higher physical activity had a significant negative total effect on body esteem in boys, but not in girls. The indirect effect of higher physical activity on body esteem via BMI was positive in boys, but negative in girls.

Conclusions: Regular physical activity may help overweight adolescents, especially boys, improve their body esteem. Kinesiologists and health professionals could explore the use of physical activity prescriptions for weight management, aiming at body esteem improvement in community health programs for adolescents.

What is Known:

•Among Western adolescents, negative body esteem is more pervasive in girls than in boys.

•There are consistent findings of the association between higher body mass index and lower body esteem in adolescents, but the association between physical activity and body esteem are equivocal.

What is New:

•A negative association between body mass index and body esteem was found in both Hong Kong adolescent boys and girls.

•The indirect effect of physical activity on body esteem via body mass index was positive in Hong Kong adolescent boys, but negative in girls.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

KKM preformed the data analysis, interpreted the results, and drafted and approved the manuscript. CE, AMM, and CML assisted in the data analysis and interpretation, and reviewed the manuscript. JRD and SYH revised the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Medicine and School Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Kwok-Kei Mak & Sai-Yin Ho

  2. Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Ester Cerin

  3. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia

    Ester Cerin

  4. School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Alison M. McManus

  5. Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

    Ching-Man Lai

  6. Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Jeffrey R. Day

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  1. Kwok-Kei Mak
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  2. Ester Cerin
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  3. Alison M. McManus
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  4. Ching-Man Lai
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  6. Sai-Yin Ho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kwok-Kei Mak.

Additional information

Communicated by Jaan Toelen

Revisions received: 14 May 2015 / 16 June 2015

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Mak, KK., Cerin, E., McManus, A.M. et al. Mediating effects of body composition between physical activity and body esteem in Hong Kong adolescents: a structural equation modeling approach. Eur J Pediatr 175, 31–37 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-015-2586-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-015-2586-5

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