Activity Behaviors in British 6-Year-Olds: Cross-Sectional Associations and Longitudinal Change During the School Transition
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: To explore activity behaviors at school entry, we describe temporal/demographic associations with accelerometer-measured physical activity in a population-based sample of British 6-year-olds, and examine change from ages 4 to 6. METHODS: A total of 712 six-year-olds (308 at both ages) wore Actiheart accelerometers for ≥3 (mean 6.0) days. We derived minutes per day sedentary (<20 cpm) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA, ≥460 cpm), also segmented across mornings (06:00 AM to 09:00 AM), school (09:00 AM to 3:00 PM), and evenings (3:00 PM to 11:00 PM). Using mixed effects linear regression, we analyzed associations between temporal/demographic factors and children's activity intensities at age 6, and change between ages 4 and 6. RESULTS: Six-year-old children engaged in MVPA (mean [SD]): 64.9 (25.7) minutes per day (53% met UK guidelines). Girls did less MVPA than boys, particularly during school hours. Children were less active on weekends (vs weekdays) and more active on spring/summer evenings (vs winter). Longitudinally, 6-year-old children did less light physical activity (-43.0; 95% confidence interval, -47.5 to -38.4 min/d) but were more sedentary (29.4; 24.6 to 34.2), and engaged in greater MVPA (7.1; 5.2 to 9.1) compared to when they were aged 4. CONCLUSION: Half of 6-year-old children met current activity guidelines; MVPA levels were lower in girls and at weekends. UK children became more sedentary but did more MVPA as they entered formal schooling. Physical activity promotion efforts should capitalize on these changes in MVPA, to maintain positive habits.
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: Amgen, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, Danone, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration, Radius Health, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, British Heart Foundation, National Osteoporosis Society, European Commission, International Osteoporosis Foundation, Centre for Diet and Activity Research, Servier, Nestec, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council
Awards: G1099494159, G119964413, G121534964, G1527320256, G1853932873, G1860049332, G204507963, G2370964905, G2473961061, G2570587127, G2892497062, Muscle resilience across the life course: from cells to society, UKCRC Centre of Excellence in Diet and Physical Activity Public Health Research, G3207356259, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, Early-life stressors and LifeCycle health, G393177772, G3946112341, G407699898, G434337789, G4389161098, G4499519760, G4501983645, G452604731, G4658714491, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G4797731496, G4815644022, Programme 3: Early development and risk of adult musculoskeletal disease, G5023501074, Centre of excellence in diet and physical activity public health., G5232320059, G5605571342, How to promote positive physical activity behaviour in parents and their preschool-aged children: using cohort data to inform interventions., G5702163051, Epigenetic biomarkers and determinants of cardiovascular risk in children, Centre of excellence in diet and physical activity public health., Establishment of a National Network on Musculoskeletal Ageing, Behavioural Epidemiology of Physical Activity, G6868616705, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre - Core Support, G7689853932, G7700157724, Physical activity epidemiology, G8048340129, G812387493, Nutrition, Development and Lifelong Health: Studies in European Populations, Long-term effects of early nutrition on later health, Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), G999458020
OpenAlex ID: W4286540090