Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in European children: the IDEFICS study

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in European children, and to evaluate the relationship between media availability in personal space and physical activity in relation to total screen time. Design: Data from the baseline IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietaryand lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) cross-sectional survey. Information on hours of television/digital video disk/video viewing and computer/ games-console use (weekday and weekend days), media device availability in personal space, sports club membership, hours of active organized play and commuting (to and from school) were assessed via a self-reported parental questionnaire. Total screen time was defined as the sum of daily media use and subsequently dichotomized into meeting or not meeting the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Setting: Eight survey centres (Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Hungary and Spain). Subjects: Children (n 15 330; 51 % males) aged 2-10 years. Results: Percentage of children engaged in total screen time for .2 h/d was higher on weekend days (52 % v. 20 % on weekdays) and in the older group (71 % in males; 57 % in females), varying by country. Children with a television set in their bedroom were more likely not to meet the screen time recommendations (OR 5 1?54; 95 % CI 1?60, 1?74).Conclusions: Approximately a third of the children failed to meet current screen time recommendations. Availability of a television set in personal space increased the risk of excess total screen time. This information could be used to identify potential targets for public health promotion actions of young population groups.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in European children below the age of 10

“…Mediterranean diet 29 (see also Tognon et al, 30 this issue), and exposure to TV viewing and excess screen time. 31,32 The impact of social position on the risk of obesity in developed countries has been clearly demonstrated in adults; 33 data for children are less consistent but nonetheless suggestive. 34 As pointed out by Johnson et al, 35 there are various measures to classify social position of which parental education has shown the most consistent association with OW in childhood.…”

Food intake and inflammation in European children: the IDEFICS study

“…As accelerometry data were available in a subsample, self-reported hours of physical activity in a sport club were used as a proxy of physical activity. In the IDEFICS study, children's weekly hours in sports club activities were significantly correlated with children's daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA as measured by accelerometers [26].…”

Results From Belgium’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

“…[3][4][5][6] Concurrently with these low estimates for overall PA levels, high levels of screen time have been reported for Belgian children and youth. 4,5,7,8 Together, these behaviors accumulate to an unhealthy lifestyle that seems to have its origin in early childhood. 9 In Belgium, surveillance of PA, related health behaviors, and health outcomes is being performed at the national level by the Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP).…”