Background:

Although the impact of physical activity on controlling or reducing obesity has been well documented, the components that can affect this relationship have not been well defined. Hence, the current study aimed at examining the relationship between physical activity and adiposity in children with a consideration of self-esteem and body-image as mediators.

Methods:

This study followed a descriptive-correlational design. In Total, 384 children (average age of 7.67 ± 0.82 years) from Gorgan, Iran, in 2022 participated in this study. Physical Activity Behavior in Leisure-Time Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire–Appearance Scales were used for assessing Physical activity, self-esteem, and body-image, respectively. BMI was calculated for assessing adiposity. Structural equation modeling was implemented for analyzing the collected data …