Children Treated for Severe Acute Malnutrition Experience a Rapid Increase in Physical Activity a Few Days after Admission

ObjectiveTo assess physical activity at admission and during recovery from severe acute malnutrition.Study designEthiopian children who were admitted with severe acute malnutrition received a clinical examination each week to monitor their recovery during rehabilitation. Using accelerometry (24 h/d for 5 consecutive days) at admission and again after 10 days of rehabilitation, we assessed the level and changes of physical activity.ResultsAmong 13 children included, the mean (SD) age was 31.1 months (15.5). At baseline, the day-night activity difference was relatively small, whereas the level of activity had substantially increased at follow-up. The diurnal mean acceleration level was significantly greater at follow-up for wrist (1158.8 vs 541.4 counts per minute, P = .003) but not hip movements (204.1 vs 141.5, P = .261). During daytime (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), hip activity increased by 38% from baseline to follow-up (eB 1.38, 95% CI 1.17-1.62), and wrist activity more than doubled (eB 2.50, 95% CI 2.17-2.87).ConclusionThe level of physical activity among children with severe acute malnutrition is very low but increases rapidly during recovery. Accelerometry may be a useful approach in the recovery phase as an indicator of early improvement.