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Within- and between-day variability of objectively measured physical activity in preschoolers
Vera Verbestel1, Eveline Van Cauwenberghe, Valerie De Coen
1Dept. of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Insights
Physical activity (PA) patterns differ between weekdays and weekends in preschoolers. Structured preschool environments are crucial for maintaining activity levels, especially in girls over four.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Kinesiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Objective measurement of physical activity (PA) in preschoolers is essential for understanding health behaviors.
- Variability in PA patterns can indicate lifestyle differences between weekdays and weekend days.
- Preschool environments play a significant role in children's daily activity levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively measure physical activity (PA) in Belgian preschoolers over four consecutive days, including weekend days.
- To analyze within-day and between-day variability in PA patterns.
- To identify factors influencing PA levels in this age group.
Main Methods:
- Objective PA measurement using accelerometers in 213 Belgian preschoolers (mean age 4.98 years).
- Data collection over four consecutive days, encompassing two weekend days.
- Analysis of PA variability across weekdays, weekend days, and after-school hours.
Main Results:
- Distinct PA patterns were observed between weekdays (more variable, preschool-influenced) and weekend days.
- After-school hours showed a decrease in activity levels on both weekdays and weekend days.
- Preschool girls aged four and above exhibited greater between-day PA variability, suggesting reduced activity without structured preschool settings.
Conclusions:
- Preschool environments significantly impact daily physical activity (PA) levels.
- PA interventions should target both preschool and home environments to effectively promote activity in young children.
- Early identification of factors affecting PA variability is crucial for developing targeted public health strategies.
Abstract:
In this study, physical activity (PA) was objectively measured in 213 Belgian preschoolers (M(age) = 4.98, SD = .88 years) over 4 consecutive days including two weekend days. Within-day variability in PA showed a typical activity pattern during weekdays and weekend days. Weekdays clearly reflected a preschool attending day with more peaks and troughs than weekend days and after-school hours were characterized by a decrease in activity. Between-day variability in PA was identified in preschool girls above the age of four, suggesting that the lack of a structured preschool environment is already related with a decrease in PA in this sex-specific age group. The results of this study are informative for the development of future PA interventions and indicate that both the preschool and the home environment should be targeted in the promotion of preschoolers' PA.
