Levels of physical activity and sedentary time among 10- to 12-year-old boys and girls across 5 European countries using accelerometers: an observational study within the ENERGY-project

Abstract

BackgroundThe study aim was to objectively assess levels of sedentary time, light, moderate and vigorous physical activity (PA) among 10-12 year olds across five European countries and to examine differences in sedentary time and PA according to gender and country.Methods686 children (mean age = 11.6 ± 0.8 years, 53% girls, mean BMI = 19.0 ± 3.4 kg/m2) from Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland wore Actigraph accelerometers and had at least 2 weekdays with minimum 10 h-wearing time and 1 weekend day with minimum 8 h-wearing time. Data were analyzed using multivariate analyses of covariance.ResultsGirls spent significantly more time sedentary (500 minutes/day) than boys (474 minutes/day) and significantly less time in light (267 minutes/day) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (32 minutes/day) than boys (284 minutes/day; 43 minutes/day respectively; p < 0.001). 4.6% of the girls and 16.8% of the boys met moderate-to-vigorous PA recommendations of at least 60 minutes/day. Greek boys were more sedentary (510 minutes/day; all at p < 0.05) than other boys. Dutch girls were less sedentary (457 minutes/day; all at p < 0.05) than other girls. Swiss girls displayed more moderate-to-vigorous PA (43 minutes/day; at p < 0.05) than other girls.ConclusionsLarge proportions of children across different European countries did not meet PA recommendations and spent a lot of time sedentary. Mean time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA was significantly lower than the recommended 60 minutes. Obesity prevention programmes focusing on both decreasing sedentary time and increasing light, moderate and vigorous PA are needed for European children, particularly girls.

Level of physical activity among children and adolescents in Europe: a review of physical activity assessed objectively by accelerometry

“…Only one study also considered another model of accelerometer. 73 Using the same model of accelerometer may be perceived as facilitating the comparison between the studies, but the selected cut-off points Proportion of children engaged in sufficient PA…”

Early life determinants of physical activity and sedentary time: Current knowledge and future research

“…Longitudinal analysis showed that activity level declined from 9 to 15 years (39). Due to various definitions of MVPA when assessed objectively, the prevalence of sufficiently active children and youth (6 to 15 years) varies from 99.6% to 0.4% in comparable studies (40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46). Using a similar definition as adopted in the Norwegian youth, Owen et al (46) suggested that 76% and 53% of 9-10 year old boys and girls, from a multi-ethnic district in England, met the recommended levels of physical activity.…”

“…It appears that boys are more physical active than girls (39,40,42,(44)(45)(46)(47), and that activity level declines with age (39)(40)(41)(42)47), also confirmed in longitudinal analysis (39,41). Children and youth from Norway, England and European countries spent between 376 and 576 minutes sedentary per day, when measured by accelerometry (39,(44)(45)(46). In the Norwegian sample this corresponds to approximately 50% of the day (when the monitor is worn) in 6 year olds, whereas sedentary time exceeded 70% of the day in 15 year olds.…”

Acute Effect of Physical Exercise on the Impulsivity and State of Anxiety, in 6-12 Years Schoolchildren With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: Systematic Review

“…Esto puede deberse al efecto dosis-respuesta (Martínez-Gómez et al, 2011). Esto significa, que generalmente las chicas son más sedentarias que los chicos (Verloigne et al, 2012), siendo por eso mayor el impacto logrado en chicas ante un mismo estímulo de ejercicio físico.…”