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Evaluation of Physical Activity, Sedentary Patterns, and Lifestyle Behavior in Spanish Preschool Children from the

Jose Manuel Jurado-Castro1,2,3, Belén Pastor-Villaescusa2,4,5, Cristina Castro-Collado2

  • 1Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.

Sports Medicine - Open
|June 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Most Spanish preschoolers meet physical activity (PA) recommendations, but boys engage in more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) than girls. Sedentary time and TV viewing were higher on weekends, with boys watching more TV.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Exercise Science

Background:

  • Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors are key modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
  • Establishing healthy habits in early childhood is crucial for lifelong well-being.
  • Understanding PA and sedentary patterns in preschoolers is vital for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in Spanish preschoolers using objective measures.
  • To compare these patterns between boys and girls.
  • To identify age and weekly variations in activity levels.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of accelerometry data from 643 preschoolers (aged 3-6 years) in the CORALS cohort.
  • Device-based measurement of physical activity and sedentary time.
  • Comparison of patterns by sex, age, and day of the week.

Main Results:

  • 67% of preschoolers met international PA recommendations, averaging 72.1 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) daily.
  • Boys showed higher MVPA than girls; MVPA increased with age for both sexes.
  • Sedentary time was higher on weekends, and boys engaged in more TV viewing than girls. Extracurricular sports involvement was 67.5%, with boys more active outdoors.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion of Spanish preschoolers meet PA guidelines, with notable variations by sex, age, and day.
  • These findings align with global trends in childhood activity levels.
  • Interventions should consider sex-specific preferences and age-related changes to promote active lifestyles effectively.
Abstract

Keywords:
24-h movementChildLifestylePhysical activitySedentary behavior

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