Patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in preschool children

Background: Little is known about patterns of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity among preschoolers. Therefore, in this observational study patterns of SB and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were examined in detail throughout the week in preschool-aged boys and girls.

Methods:

A sample of 703 Melbourne preschool children (387 boys; 4.6 ± 0.7 y) were included in data analysis. SB

and MVPA data were collected using accelerometry over an eight-day period. Percentage of time per hour in SB

and in MVPA between 08:00 h and 20:00 h was calculated. Multi-level logistic regression models were created to

examine the hour-by-hour variability in SB and MVPA for boys and girls across weekdays and weekend days. Odds

ratios (OR) were calculated to interpret differences in hour-by-hour SB and MVPA levels between boys and girls, and

between weekdays and weekend days.

Results:

The highest SB levels co-occurred with the lowest MVPA levels from the morning till the early afternoon

on weekdays, and during the morning and around midday on weekends. Besides, participation in SB was the

lowest and participation in MVPA was the highest from the mid afternoon till the evening on weekdays and

weekend days. The variability across the hours in SB and, especially, in MVPA was rather small throughout weekdays

and weekends. These patterns were found in both boys and girls. During some hours, girls were found to be more

likely than boys to demonstrate higher SB levels (OR from 1.08 to 1.16; all p < 0.05) and lower MVPA levels (OR from

0.75 to 0.88; all p < 0.05), but differences were small. During weekends, hour-by-hour SB levels were more likely to

be lower (OR from 0.74 to 0.98; all p < 0.05) and hour-by-hour MVPA levels were more likely to be higher (OR from

1.15 to 1.50; all p < 0.05), than during weekdays, in boys and girls.

Conclusion:

Entire weekdays, especially from the morning till the early afternoon, and entire weekend days are

opportunities to reduce SB and to promote MVPA in preschool-aged boys and girls. Particularly weekdays hold the

greatest promise for improving SB and MVPA. No particular time of the week was found where one sex should be

targeted.