Objective:

To establish the relationship between levels of physical activity and body mass index in Colombian students.

Materials and methods:

Correlational descriptive study, performed with 2,651 children between 10-12 years of age, educated in both public and private institutions in six Colombian cities. Prior informed consent was signed by parents, and permission was given by student participants. A survey was applied, in order to collect sociodemographic variables, as was a physical activity form and lifestyle questionnaire (PAQ-C).

Results:

There was a 1:1 male-female ratio. Of the participants in the study, 36.1% were 10-year-old children. In 87% of overweight participants, physical activity levels were evaluated as low or very low. Of those who had normal body mass indexes, one in 10 performed moderate physical activity, and in underweight children, 81.6% had low or very low physical activity levels. Statistically significant differences in physical activity levels by both sex and age p<0.05 were revealed. Low levels of significant inverse correlation were found between physical activity and body mass index (-0.059 for the group total, and -0.070 and -0.046 for boys and girls, respectively).

Conclusions:

Physical activity and body mass index are significantly, differentially, and inversely associated. Physical activity should be promoted in children, as it directly impacts their body mass index, and both variables predict adult cardiovascular health.

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