Physical activity among Norwegian preschoolers varies by sex, age, and season

Background Knowledge of physical activity (PA) in preschool populations is important for public health promotion. We investigated levels of PA in a large sample of Norwegian preschoolers and explored variations and development in PA by sex, age, and season. Methods Physical activity levels of 1154 c...

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Published in:Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2019-06, Vol.29 (6), p.862-873
Main Authors: Nilsen, Ada Kristine Ofrim, Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred, Ylvisaaker, Einar, Johannessen, Kjersti, Aadland, Eivind
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
age trend
children
Children & youth
Exercise
Girls
health behavior
objective monitoring
Preschool children
seasonal variation
Seasons
Summer
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Summary:Background Knowledge of physical activity (PA) in preschool populations is important for public health promotion. We investigated levels of PA in a large sample of Norwegian preschoolers and explored variations and development in PA by sex, age, and season. Methods Physical activity levels of 1154 children (mean age 4.7 years, 52% boys) were measured by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+) for 14 consecutive days between autumn 2015 and summer 2016. Additionally, 330 children provided up to 3 repeated measurements of PA across seasons. A linear mixed model was applied to analyze associations and interactions of total PA (cpm), light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA), sedentary time (SED), sex, age, and season. Results Boys and girls spent mean (standard deviation) 72 (21) and 59 (18) min/d in MVPA and had a total PA of 790 (202) and 714 (192) cpm/d, respectively. Boys had higher PA levels than girls, PA increased with age, and PA was higher during spring/summer than autumn/winter (P 
ISSN:0905-7188
1600-0838
DOI:10.1111/sms.13405