Refractive error and vision problems in children: association with increased sedentary behavior and reduced exercise in 9-year-old children in Ireland.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether refractive error and vision problems in children are associated with increased sedentary behavior and reduced participation in physical activity and sport and, secondarily, to examine the relationship between vision problems and body mass index. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of the first wave of the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) Study, a nationally representative study of children in Ireland. Data was collected between August 2007 and May 2008. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated at the time of the interview. The presence of a vision problem requiring treatment, including refractive error, was detected by report of the primary care giver, usually the mother. Association between vision problems and sedentary behavior, physical activity, and level of participation in sports was investigated in adjusted regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 8,568 children (mean age, 9 ± 0.13 years; 4,024 [48.68%] males) were included. The presence of refractive error or a vision problem was reported for 1,000 (11.68%) children. The majority of children had normal weight, but 1,497 (17.5%) were overweight, and 446 (5.2%) were obese. A positive association between vision problems and sedentary behavior (P = 0.00089) and an inverse association with exercise (P = 0.01) were found. Overall, vision problems were not associated with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this study cohort, refractive error and vision problems were associated with increased sedentary behavior and decreased physical activity, although no causal relationship was established.