We read with interest the article titled “Sedentary behavior, dietary habits and cardiometabolic risk in physically active children and adolescents”. In this study, the authors attempted to evaluate the relationship between sedentary behavior, cardiometabolic risk factors, and eating habits in physically active children and adolescents. Their results concluded that there is no association between sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk factors in physically active children and adolescents. However, they concluded that sedentary behavior was associated with inappropriate eating habits. Moreover, children and adolescents showing sedentary behavior were more likely to consume food in front of the television regularly and to consume at least one ultra-processed food per day while consuming less fruit. We want to address several issues in this valuable article.

Despite this study providing important findings, studies with cross-sectional design inherently have substantial limitations. Particularly when it comes to diseases such as cardiometabolic disorders, these are the results of the cumulation of risk factors over many years. A cross-sectional design for this age group may overlook the effects of sedentary behavior on cardiometabolic conditions in adulthood, as it most likely will not have enough time to demonstrate its real effect during early life.

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