BACKGROUND: Knowledge of physical activity (PA) in preschool populations is important for public health promotion. We investigated levels of PA in a large sample of Norwegian preschoolers and explored variations and development in PA by sex, age, and season. METHODS: Physical activity levels of 1154 children (mean age 4.7 years, 52% boys) were measured by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+) for 14 consecutive days between autumn 2015 and summer 2016. Additionally, 330 children provided up to 3 repeated measurements of PA across seasons. A linear mixed model was applied to analyze associations and interactions of total PA (cpm), light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), sedentary time (SED), sex, age, and season. RESULTS: Boys and girls spent mean (standard deviation) 72 (21) and 59 (18) min/d in MVPA and had a total PA of 790 (202) and 714 (192) cpm/d, respectively. Boys had higher PA levels than girls, PA increased with age, and PA was higher during spring/summer than autumn/winter (P < 0.001). Boys had a greater increase in PA by age than girls (P < 0.05), mainly due to increased MVPA during spring/summer (p for sex × age × season=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Boys were consistently more active and less sedentary than girls, and PA increased with age for both sexes. Boys exhibited a greater increase than girls in PA by age, and PA differed across seasons, with higher levels of MVPA during spring/summer. Differences in MVPA between boys and girls, among age groups, and among seasons seem to be interrelated, indicating that many factors influence preschoolers' PA.
BACKGROUND: Knowledge of physical activity (PA) in preschool populations is important for public health promotion. We investigated levels of PA in a large sample of Norwegian preschoolers and explored variations and development in PA by sex, age, and season. METHODS: Physical activity levels of 1154 children (mean age 4.7 years, 52% boys) were measured by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+) for 14 consecutive days between autumn 2015 and summer 2016. Additionally, 330 children provided up to 3 repeated measurements of PA across seasons. A linear mixed model was applied to analyze associations and interactions of total PA (cpm), light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), sedentary time (SED), sex, age, and season. RESULTS:Boys and girls spent mean (standard deviation) 72 (21) and 59 (18) min/d in MVPA and had a total PA of 790 (202) and 714 (192) cpm/d, respectively. Boys had higher PA levels than girls, PA increased with age, and PA was higher during spring/summer than autumn/winter (P < 0.001). Boys had a greater increase in PA by age than girls (P < 0.05), mainly due to increased MVPA during spring/summer (p for sex × age × season=0.009). CONCLUSIONS:Boys were consistently more active and less sedentary than girls, and PA increased with age for both sexes. Boys exhibited a greater increase than girls in PA by age, and PA differed across seasons, with higher levels of MVPA during spring/summer. Differences in MVPA between boys and girls, among age groups, and among seasons seem to be interrelated, indicating that many factors influence preschoolers' PA.
Authors: Eivind Aadland; Hege Eikeland Tjomsland; Kjersti Johannessen; Ada Kristine Ofrim Nilsen; Geir Kåre Resaland; Øyvind Glosvik; Osvald Lykkebø; Rasmus Stokke; Lars Bo Andersen; Sigmund Alfred Anderssen; Karin Allor Pfeiffer; Phillip D Tomporowski; Ingunn Størksen; John B Bartholomew; Yngvar Ommundsen; Steven James Howard; Anthony D Okely; Katrine Nyvoll Aadland Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2020-07-03
Authors: Taylor B Turrisi; Kelsey M Bittel; Ashley B West; Sarah Hojjatinia; Sahar Hojjatinia; Scherezade K Mama; Constantino M Lagoa; David E Conroy Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2021-02-04 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Sandy Wong; Alejandra Cantoral; Martha María Téllez-Rojo; Ivan Pantic; Emily Oken; Katherine Svensson; Michael Dorman; Iván Gutiérrez-Avila; Johnathan Rush; Nia McRae; Robert O Wright; Andrea A Baccarelli; Itai Kloog; Allan C Just Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-10-30 Impact factor: 3.240