Interaction of physical activity and interoception in children

Abstract

Background: Previous research indicates that interindividual differences in the perception of bodily processes (interoceptive sensitivity, IS) interact with the degree of physical activity (PA) in adults. Whether there is a similar relationship between PA and IS in children has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between IS and PA during physical performance tasks and in everyday situations. Methods: IS was assessed using a heartbeat perception task in a subsample of 49 children within the health promotion program “Join the Healthy Boatâ€. PA was examined using a physical performance task, assessing the distance covered during a standardized 6-minute run. Everyday PA was measured by a multi-sensor device. Findings: Children with higher IS performed better in the physical performance task. Additionally, based on energy expenditure defined as metabolic equivalents, IS was positively correlated with the extent of light PA levels in the morning and afternoon. Discussion: IS interacts positively with the degree of PA in children supporting the idea that interoception is important for the self-regulation of health-related behavior.