Objectively-measured sedentary time and physical activity in a bi-ethnic sample of young children: variation by socio-demographic, temporal and perinatal factors

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that South Asian school-aged children and adults are less active compared to the white British population. It is unknown if this generalises to young children. We aimed to describe variability in levels of physical activity and sedentary time in a bi-ethnic sample of young children from a deprived location. Methods: This observational study included 202 South Asian and 140 white British children aged 1.5 to 5y, who provided 3181 valid days of triaxial accelerometry (Actigraph GT3X+). Variability in sedentary time and physical activity levels were analysed by linear multilevel modelling. Logistic multilevel regression was used to identify factors associated with physical inactivity (failing to perform ≥180 min of total physical activity including ≥60 min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day). Results: There were no significant ethnic differences in the overall levels of behaviours; South Asian and white British children spent half of daily time sedentary, just over 40% in light physical activity, and the remaining 7.5 to 8% of time in MVPA. Sedentary time was lower and physical activity levels were higher in older children, and levels of MVPA and vector magnitude counts per minute (CPM) were higher on weekends compared to weekdays. In South Asian children, sedentary time was lower on weekends. Sedentary time was lower and physical activity levels were higher in spring compared to winter in white British children, and in all seasons compared to winter in South Asian children. South Asian children born at high birth weight performed more MVPA, and in both ethnicities there was some evidence that children with older mothers were more sedentary and less active. Sedentary time was higher and light physical activity was lower in South Asian children in the highest compared to the lowest income families. South Asian girls performed less MVPA, registered fewer vector magnitude CPM, and were 3.5 times more likely to be physically inactive than South Asian boys. Conclusions: Sedentary time and physical activity levels vary by socio-demographic, temporal and perinatal characteristics in young children from a deprived location. South Asian girls have the most to gain from efforts to increase physical activity levels.

A whole system approach to increasing children’s physical activity in a multi-ethnic UK city: a process evaluation protocol

“…Physical activity (PA), which is positively related to health, wellbeing and academic outcomes [ 4 – 6 ], is also socially patterned [ 7 ]. Those who live in more deprived areas and/or are of ethnic minority populations are consistently reported to engage in lower levels of PA than less deprived and / or ethnic majority populations [ 8 – 10 ]. Social stratification of lifestyle behaviours, including PA, provides a partial explanation for the social inequalities of health, and can serve to perpetuate existing health inequalities [ 11 ].…”

Associations of diarised sleep onset time, period and duration with total and central adiposity in a biethnic sample of young children: the Born in Bradford study

“…It is conceivable that these children may have missed a substantial part of the evening peak in physical activity, thus contributing to higher adiposity [29,42]. Our related observation in the same group of children, that going to sleep ≥20 minutes later on weekends than weekdays was associated with lower waist circumference, may be explained by later sleep onset at the weekend enabling more physical activity [43].…”

Associations of diarised sleep onset time, period and duration with total and central adiposity in a biethnic sample of young children: the Born in Bradford observational cohort study

“… 33 44 Our related observation in the same group of children, that going to sleep ≥20 min later on weekends than weekdays was associated with lower waist circumference, may be explained by later sleep onset at the weekend enabling more opportunity to be physically active. 45 …”

“…33 44 Our related observation in the same group of children, that going to sleep ≥20 min later on weekends than weekdays was associated with lower waist circumference, may be explained by later sleep onset at the weekend enabling more opportunity to be physically active. 45 Although white children aged 36 months exhibited a similar distribution of sleep onset times compared with their younger white peers, there were few comparable associations, apart from some indication in children aged 36 months that later sleep onset on weekends than weekdays was associated with lower adiposity (an association with the sum of two-skinfolds approached statistical significance). The apparent age-related differences may be explained by daily physical activity patterns following a different trajectory in slightly older children who tend not to nap (just 5% of white children aged 36 months napped every day; 46% napped occasionally; 49% did not nap).…”