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Sleep Duration, Sedentary Behaviors, and Physical Activity across Weight Status in Hispanic Toddlers' Participants of
José Molina1, Kiara Amaro1, Cynthia M Pérez2
1Nutrition Program, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico.
Insights
Toddlers in Puerto Rico
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition and Health
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- The WIC program provides vital support to low-income families, including nutritional and health guidance.
- Understanding lifestyle behaviors like physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep is crucial for addressing childhood obesity.
- Puerto Rico faces significant public health challenges, including high rates of overweight and obesity in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep duration in toddlers enrolled in the WIC program in Puerto Rico.
- To investigate the association between these lifestyle behaviors and excessive weight status in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from a longitudinal study's follow-up visit.
- Participants included toddlers aged 12-36 months enrolled in the WIC program.
- Data on sleep, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity were collected using a validated questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Overweight/obese toddlers showed higher physical activity duration compared to healthy-weight peers.
- A larger proportion of overweight/obese toddlers met screen time recommendations.
- Unstructured physical activity was positively correlated with weight-for-length z-score in toddlers.
Conclusions:
- Most toddlers met recommended durations for sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity.
- Higher physical activity levels in overweight/obese toddlers may be linked to WIC program interventions.
- Further research is needed to confirm the impact of WIC interventions on toddler weight status and behavior.
Objective:
To describe physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep duration in toddlers' participants of the WIC program in Puerto Rico and assess its association with excessive weight.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional analysis of data gathered in the follow-up visit (12 months later) of a longitudinal study among toddlers 12-36 months old participants of the WIC program. In this follow-up visit, a Sleep, Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity Questionnaire was included.
Results:
From the 213 eligible participants for the follow-up visit, 76 completed the follow-up visit. Most were girls (52.6%), with median age 21 months and most were categorized as healthy weight (76.3%). In general, toddlers spent a total median of 142 min/d in sedentary behaviors, 300 min/d in physical activities and 690 min/d sleeping. There was a higher duration of physical activities among overweight/obese compared to healthy weights (p<0.05) but similar duration of sedentary behaviors and sleep by weight status (p>0.05). There was a greater proportion of overweight/obese toddlers meeting the screen time recommendation (88.9%) compared to healthy weight toddlers (62.1%; p<0.05). Also, there was a significant positive age-adjusted correlation between time spent in unstructured physical activity (R=0.23, p<0.05) with weight-for-length z-score. Infant weight status was not significantly correlated to parent's perception or knowledge of physical activity or sleep in toddlers (p>0.05).
Conclusion:
Most toddlers studied met the recommendations for duration of sleep, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity. Overweight/obese toddlers engage in more physical activities than those with a healthy weight status. These findings could be due to educational interventions by the WIC program to promote physical activities, as these toddlers are active WIC participants.
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