Relationship between Sedentary Time, Physical Activity and Multiple Lifestyle Factors in Children

Abstract

An improved understanding of relationships between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen-time and lifestyle factors is imperative for developing interventions, yet few studies have explored such relationships simultaneously. Therefore, the study's aim was to examine the relationship between sufficient MVPA (≥60 min•day-1) and excessive screen-time (≥2 h•day-1) with lifestyle factors in children. In total, 756 children (10.4 ± 0.6 years) completed a questionnaire, which assessed sleep duration, MVPA, homework/reading, screen-time and diet, and a 20 metre multi-stage shuttle run test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Body mass and stature were measured and used to calculate BMI (body mass index) for age/sex z-scores. Fruit and vegetable consumption and CRF were positively associated with sufficient MVPA, irrespective of sex (p < 0.05). Excessive screen-time was positively associated with sugary snack consumption in boys and girls, and diet soft drink intake in boys (p < 0.05). In addition, excessive screen-time was negatively associated with MVPA before school for both boys and girls, as well as with sleep duration and fruit and vegetable consumption for girls (p < 0.05). Sufficient MVPA and excessive screen-time were associated with healthy and unhealthy factors, respectively, with relationships sometimes differing by sex. Future health promoting interventions should consider targeting change in multiple lifestyle factors.

Report Card Grades on the Physical Activity of Children and Youth Comparing 30 Very High Human Development Index Countries

“…15 Furthermore, very high-income countries bear the largest proportion of economic burden of physical inactivity worldwide (81% of health care costs and 60% of indirect costs). 16 However, the majority of children [17][18][19][20][21] and youth [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] do not meet the current recommendations of 60 minutes of MVPA per day 26 in very high HDI European and North American countries and regions. Similar findings were observed among children and/or adolescents from other very high HDI countries or regions such as Australia, 6 Chile, 27 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), 28 Hong Kong, 29 Japan, 30 South Korea, 31 Qatar, 32 and the United Arab Emirates.…”

Accelerometer and self-reported measures of sedentary behaviour and associations with adiposity in UK youth

“…One possible explanation for this finding is that adolescents often have more autonomy on how they spend their free time (Haberstick et al, 2014) in comparison to younger children, and this unstructured time is often spent engaged in video gaming, computer/tablet time and/or mobile phone use. Moreover, adolescents may spend more time on computers in their leisure-time compared to younger children because they are completing homework (Sheldrick et al, 2018). Such productive screen time behaviours can be perceived as positive for development and wellbeing (e.g., academic attainment, school functioning; Carson et al, 2016b), and may not necessarily displace more 'healthy behaviours' such as physical activity (Sheldrick et al, 2018).…”

Health, Fitness, Lifestyle and Physical Competency of School Children in Wales

“…Following written informed head teacher and parent consent and participant assent, 429 children (52% boys; aged 11.1 ± 0.6 years; 87% white British) from 11 sociodemographically representative primary and secondary schools (Welsh index of multiple deprivation score 23-1898) (Noble et al, 2006) in South Wales, UK, participated in the study between 2015-2018. As part of the serial Swan-Linx programme (Sheldrick et al, 2018;Taylor et al, 2004;Tyler, Mackintosh, Palmer, et al, 2015), participants completed a selection of anthropometric and health-related fitness measures, three questionnaires, and the Dragon Challenge, a previously validated measure of physical competence in 10-14 year old children . Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Research Ethics Committee [PG/2014/007; PG/2014/037; PG/2016/003].…”

“…A sample of 3,407 children (49.3% boys; aged 10.5 ± 0.6 years) participated in the study. Data were collected on children as part of the Swan-Linx health, fitness and lifestyle programme (Sheldrick, Tyler, Mackintosh, & Stratton, 2018;Tyler, Mackintosh, Brophy, et al, 2015;Tyler, Mackintosh, Palmer, Jones, & Stratton, 2015), which includes selected measures from the SportsLinx project Taylor et al, 2004). Data were captured during Fitness Fun Days between 2013-2017, across 29 socio-demographically representative schools, in South Wales, UK.…”

“…Three components of health-related fitness were measured, namely cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and body mass index, using standardised methods (Council of Europe, 1993; Sheldrick et al, 2018;Taylor et al, 2004;Tyler, Mackintosh, Palmer, et al, 2015).…”