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Longitudinal Associations Between Physical Activity and Sedentary Time and Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness in

Kirkke Reisberg1, Eva-Maria Riso2, Liina Animägi1

  • 1Department of Physiotherapy and Environmental Health, Tartu Health Care College, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
|October 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Preschool physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) did not significantly impact school-aged children's cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or muscular fitness (MF) longitudinally. Previous fitness levels were the strongest predictor of future fitness outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric exercise science
  • Childhood physical activity and fitness
  • Longitudinal study of child development

Background:

  • The relationship between preschool physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and subsequent physical fitness (PF) in school-aged children is not well understood.
  • Understanding these early-life associations is crucial for establishing long-term health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the associations of objectively measured vigorous physical activity (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total physical activity (TPA), and ST in late preschool (age 6-7) with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF) in first grade.
  • To determine if preschool PA and ST predict later school-age fitness in Estonian children.

Main Methods:

  • Objective assessment of PA (accelerometers) and ST in 77 preschoolers (age 6-7).
  • Measurement of CRF (20 m shuttle run) and MF (z-score of relative upper- and lower-limb strength) in first grade.
  • Statistical analysis adjusted for baseline age, wear time, prior fitness, and parental education.

Main Results:

  • Unadjusted analyses showed associations between higher preschool VPA, MVPA, TPA and better MF in boys, and higher VPA and better CRF in girls.
  • After adjustments, no significant associations were found between preschool VPA, MVPA, TPA, ST, and first-grade CRF or MF in either gender.
  • Higher preschool PF levels were consistently associated with higher corresponding PF levels in first grade for both genders.

Conclusions:

  • Vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, as well as total physical activity, during the final year of preschool are insufficient to longitudinally influence cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness.
  • Sedentary time in preschool does not appear to impact the cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness of children in first grade.
  • Existing physical fitness levels in preschool are a stronger predictor of fitness in early school years than preschool activity or sedentary behaviors.

Keywords:
cardiorespiratory fitnesschildrenmuscular fitnessphysical activitysedentary time

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