Ellis YG, Cliff DP, Janssen X, Jones RA, Reilly JJ, Okely AD. Sedentary time, physical activity and compliance with IOM recommendations in young children at childcare.
Prev Med Rep 2016;
7:221-226. [PMID:
28879067 PMCID:
PMC5575436 DOI:
10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.12.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to report patterns of sitting, standing and physical activity (PA) and compliance with Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for sedentary behavior (SB) and PA among children aged 1 to 5 years at childcare, and examine sociodemographic variations.
Sitting, standing and PA time was assessed using an activPAL inclinometer over a period of 1 to 5 days in 301 children (49% boys; mean age = 3.7 ± 1.0 years) across 11 childcare services in Illawarra, NSW, Australia. Breaks and bouts of sitting and standing were calculated and categorized. Height and weight were assessed and parents completed a demographic survey. Differences by sex, age category (< 3 vs ≥ 3 years), weight status and SES were examined.
Children spent 48.4% of their time at childcare sitting, 32.5% standing, and 19.1% in PA. Boys spent significantly more time in PA compared to girls (20.8% vs 17.7%; P = 0.003). Toddlers (< 3 years) spent significantly more time in PA compared to preschoolers (≥ 3 years) (22.2% vs 18.3%; P < 0.001). Children who were underweight spent significantly more time sitting compared with their overweight peers (52.4% vs 46.8%; P = 0.003). 56% and 16% of children met the IOM SB and PA recommendations, respectively. Girls (odds ratio [OR]; 95%CI = 0.26; 0.13 to 0.55) and preschoolers (0.16; 0.07 to 0.38) were less likely to meet the IOM PA recommendation compared to boys and toddlers. Young children spent ~ 50% of their time at childcare sitting. Girls and preschoolers sit more and are less likely to meet PA recommendations, making them important groups to target in future interventions.
Use of an objective and direct measure to assess sitting, standing and PA.
Assessment of compliance with the IOM recommendation for SB and PA in childcare.
Young children spent almost half of their day at childcare sitting.
Girls and preschoolers sit more and are less likely to meet PA recommendations.
Strategies to break-up sitting time with more standing and LMVPA are warranted.
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