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Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time of Suburban Toddlers Aged 12-36 Months
Louise A Kelly1, Allan Knox1, Carlos Gonzalez1
1Exercise Science Department, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA 93065, USA.
Insights
Childhood physical activity levels show no significant gender differences. Culturally sensitive interventions are needed to reduce sedentary behavior and combat childhood obesity, especially in minority groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Low physical activity in early childhood is linked to future obesity and chronic disease.
- Understanding physical activity patterns in toddlers is crucial for preventative health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure physical activity in suburban children aged 12-36 months.
- To investigate gender, ethnicity, and overweight status effects on physical activity.
- To assess the one-year tracking of physical activity in a subset of children.
Main Methods:
- Objective measurement of physical activity using Actigraph accelerometers for 3-7 days.
- Statistical analyses including GLM, t-tests, Spearman correlations, and kappa statistics.
- Involved 142 children in the first year and 25 in the follow-up.
Main Results:
- No significant gender differences were found in anthropometrics, sedentary behavior, or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
- No significant interactions were observed for gender, ethnicity, or overweight status on physical activity or sedentary behavior.
- Moderate agreement was found for the tracking of MVPA over one year.
Conclusions:
- Habitual physical activity levels in young children do not differ significantly by gender.
- Targeted, culturally relevant interventions are necessary to decrease sedentary behavior and mitigate obesity risks, particularly in minority populations.
Abstract:
Low levels of physical activity may predispose children to the development of obesity and related chronic diseases in later life. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) quantitatively describe the levels of habitual physical activity in a contemporary sample of suburban children aged 12 to 36 months; (2) assess for gender differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior; (3) examine the specific effects of ethnicity, gender and overweight status on the objectively measured physical activity; and (4) quantify the tracking of physical activity in a subset of children over 1 year. During year one, 142 participants wore the GT3X Actigraph for 3 days. At a 1-year follow-up, a subset of 25 participants wore the Actigraph for 7 consecutive days. GLM and t-tests as appropriate were carried out to assess the influence of gender on the physical activity level. Spearman rank correlations, percentage agreement and kappa statistics assessed the tracking of physical activity. The results showed no significant gender differences in any anthropometric measurements, sedentary behavior or MVPA (p > 0.05). There were also no significant gender, ethnicity or overweight interaction for sedentary behavior, time spent in light PA and time spent in MVPA (p > 0.05). For tracking, there was a moderate strength of agreement for MVPA. Considering the disproportionate effects of obesity in minority groups, culturally appropriate interventions targeting the reduction in sedentary behavior are urgently required.
