Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in youth: the International children’s accelerometry database (ICAD)

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity and sedentary behaviour in youth have been reported to vary by sex, age, weight status and country. However, supporting data are often self-reported and/or do not encompass a wide range of ages or geographical locations. This study aimed to describe objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time patterns in youth.MethodsThe International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) consists of ActiGraph accelerometer data from 20 studies in ten countries, processed using common data reduction procedures. Analyses were conducted on 27,637 participants (2.8–18.4 years) who provided at least three days of valid accelerometer data. Linear regression was used to examine associations between age, sex, weight status, country and physical activity outcomes.ResultsBoys were less sedentary and more active than girls at all ages. After 5 years of age there was an average cross-sectional decrease of 4.2 % in total physical activity with each additional year of age, due mainly to lower levels of light-intensity physical activity and greater time spent sedentary. Physical activity did not differ by weight status in the youngest children, but from age seven onwards, overweight/obese participants were less active than their normal weight counterparts. Physical activity varied between samples from different countries, with a 15–20 % difference between the highest and lowest countries at age 9–10 and a 26–28 % difference at age 12–13.ConclusionsPhysical activity differed between samples from different countries, but the associations between demographic characteristics and physical activity were consistently observed. Further research is needed to explore environmental and sociocultural explanations for these differences.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0274-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

After-School Physical Activity Interventions on Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Health: A Review of Reviews

“…This is supported by accelerometer data from over 27,000 children and adolescents (aged 3 to 18) from 20 studies in ten countries which showed that only 9% of the boys and 2% of the girls met the WHO recommendations (Cooper et al, 2015).…”

Physical fitness among 6th grade students and evaluation with the normative reference values

“…In the recent study of Cooper et al [5], it was found that in all 20 studied countries only 9% boys and 1.9% 5-17-year-old girls met the guidelines of achieving 60 min of MVPA every day. Daily physical activity tends to decrease during puberty [6].…”

Compliance with physical activity guidelines and barriers to physical activity in High School students

“…Sin embargo, un estudio longitudinal desde los 13 hasta los 23 años evidenció que los niveles de AF sufren un descenso progresivo en la transición entre la adolescencia y la etapa joven adulta (Kjønniksen, Torsheim, & Wold, 2008). En esta misma línea, una reciente revisión sistemática llevada a cabo por Cooper et al (2015) en 27.637 niños y adolescentes (2-18 años) de 10 países señalaron que a partir de los cinco años se producía un descenso medio del 4.2% sobre los niveles de AF. En el contexto español, el abandono de la práctica físico-deportiva parece también más acusado en la etapa de la adolescencia, concretamente en el periodo de Bachillerato (Macarro, Romero, & Torres, 2010), que se establece como un punto transitorio a la entrada en la formación profesional de grado superior u otras enseñanzas superiores o en la enseñanza universitaria.…”

“…Para ello, existen numerosas variables que pueden ayudar a explicar el comportamiento de práctica de AF. Dentro de los factores socio-demográficos que influyen en la práctica de AF existen numerosas evidencias que señalan que los chicos son más activos que las chicas en todos los rangos de edad en la adolescencia (Cooper et al, 2015). En esta misma línea, los chicos realizan más práctica deportiva extraescolar que las chicas (Isorna, Rial, & Vaquero-Cristóbal, 2014).…”