Compliance with the 24‐h movement behaviors guidelines among urban and rural Brazilian preschoolers

Abstract

BackgroundThe importance of movement behaviors for health is well‐known, although few studies have examined the compliance with movement guidelines in preschoolers from different living contexts. This study reported the compliance with the 24‐h movement behaviors guidelines among low‐income Brazilian preschoolers from rural and urban areas, according to age.MethodsA total of 453 preschoolers (n = 222 urban), aged between 3 and 5 years, provided physical activity (PA) data (Actigraph wGT3X). Sleep duration, and screen time were parent‐reported. Preschoolers were classified as compliant/non‐ compliant with the 24‐h movement guidelines, according to age. The association between prevalence of compliance with the recommendations and the children's living setting were estimated (SPSS; 27.0).ResultsPreschoolers were active (mean = 299.19 ± 76.42; and 369.76 ± 95.56 min/day in urban and rural areas, respectively), though moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time was below the 60 daily minutes recommended in both urban and rural settings (mean = 38.39 ± 21.36; and 47.32 ± 24.28, respectively). None of the urban children complied with the three recommendations simultaneously, while in the rural area, only 2.6% were compliant. Single movement behaviors compliances in the urban setting were 6.8%, 28.8% and 5.4% for PA, sleep, and screen time, respectively; while for rural settings were 16.5%, 21.2%, and 7.4%. Living in the rural area was related to the compliance with PA recommendation for the 5‐year‐old preschoolers.ConclusionIn both urban and rural Brazilian areas, very few preschoolers are compliant with the guidelines, and more than one third of the children do not comply with any of the recommendations. Strategies and programs to promote compliance with movement behaviors guidelines should consider children's living setting and their age groups.