PURPOSE: Little evidence exists about the prevalence of adequate levels of physical activity and of appropriate screen-based entertainment in preschool children. Previous studies have generally relied on small samples. This study investigates how much time preschool children spend being physically active and engaged in screen-based entertainment. The study also reports compliance with the recently released Australian recommendations for physical activity (≥3 h·d(-1)) and screen entertainment (≤1 h·d(-1)) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education physical activity guidelines (≥2 h·d(-1)) and American Academy of Pediatrics screen-based entertainment recommendations (≤2 h·d(-1)) in a large sample of preschool children. METHODS: Participants were 1004 Melbourne preschool children (mean age = 4.5 yr, range = 3-5 yr) and their families in the Healthy Active Preschool Years study. Physical activity data were collected by accelerometry during an 8-d period. Parents reported their child's television/video/DVD viewing, computer/Internet, and electronic game use during a typical week. A total of 703 (70%) had sufficient accelerometry data, and 935 children (93%) had useable data on time spent in screen-based entertainment. RESULTS: Children spent 16% (approximately 127 min·d(-1)) of their time being physically active. Boys and younger children were more active than were girls and older children, respectively. Children spent an average of 113 min·d(-1) in screen-based entertainment. Virtually no children (<1%) met both the Australian recommendations and 32% met both the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of young children are not participating in adequate amounts of physical activity and in excessive amounts of screen-based entertainment. It is likely that physical activity may decline and that screen-based entertainment may increase with age. Compliance with recommendations may be further reduced. Strategies to promote physical activity and reduce screen-based entertainment in young children are required.
PURPOSE: Little evidence exists about the prevalence of adequate levels of physical activity and of appropriate screen-based entertainment in preschool children. Previous studies have generally relied on small samples. This study investigates how much time preschool children spend being physically active and engaged in screen-based entertainment. The study also reports compliance with the recently released Australian recommendations for physical activity (≥3 h·d(-1)) and screen entertainment (≤1 h·d(-1)) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education physical activity guidelines (≥2 h·d(-1)) and American Academy of Pediatrics screen-based entertainment recommendations (≤2 h·d(-1)) in a large sample of preschool children. METHODS:Participants were 1004 Melbourne preschool children (mean age = 4.5 yr, range = 3-5 yr) and their families in the Healthy Active Preschool Years study. Physical activity data were collected by accelerometry during an 8-d period. Parents reported their child's television/video/DVD viewing, computer/Internet, and electronic game use during a typical week. A total of 703 (70%) had sufficient accelerometry data, and 935 children (93%) had useable data on time spent in screen-based entertainment. RESULTS:Children spent 16% (approximately 127 min·d(-1)) of their time being physically active. Boys and younger children were more active than were girls and older children, respectively. Children spent an average of 113 min·d(-1) in screen-based entertainment. Virtually no children (<1%) met both the Australian recommendations and 32% met both the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of young children are not participating in adequate amounts of physical activity and in excessive amounts of screen-based entertainment. It is likely that physical activity may decline and that screen-based entertainment may increase with age. Compliance with recommendations may be further reduced. Strategies to promote physical activity and reduce screen-based entertainment in young children are required.
Authors: Shari L Barkin; Archana P Lamichhane; Jorge A Banda; Meghan M JaKa; Maciej S Buchowski; Kelly R Evenson; Shrikant I Bangdiwala; Charlotte Pratt; Simone A French; June Stevens Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2017-01-09 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Valerie Carson; Mark S Tremblay; John C Spence; Brian W Timmons; Ian Janssen Journal: Paediatr Child Health Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 2.253
Authors: Russell R Pate; Jennifer R O'Neill; William H Brown; Karin A Pfeiffer; Marsha Dowda; Cheryl L Addy Journal: Child Obes Date: 2015-06-29 Impact factor: 2.992
Authors: Ali Brian; Adam Pennell; Sally Taunton; Angela Starrett; Candice Howard-Shaughnessy; Jacqueline D Goodway; Danielle Wadsworth; Mary Rudisill; David Stodden Journal: Sports Med Date: 2019-10 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Russell R Pate; William H Brown; Karin A Pfeiffer; Erin K Howie; Ruth P Saunders; Cheryl L Addy; Marsha Dowda Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2016-01-20 Impact factor: 5.043