Research Study Abstract

Association between accelerometer-measured physical activity intensities and sedentary time in 8-10 year old children

  • Published on 2013

Abstract This study examines the association between objectively-measured physical activity (PA) intensities and sedentary behaviour (SED) in a cohort of 532 children aged 8-10 y. PA and SED were assessed by accelerometer over 7-days. Television and computer/video-game use were self-reported. Associations between PA intensities and SED variables were assessed by Spearman correlations and adjusted multiple linear regression. Higher mean daily moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous PA (MVPA, VPA) were negatively associated with mean daily SED (r=-0.47 and -0.37; p<0.001), and positively associated with mean daily total PA (r=0.58 and 0.46; p<0.001). MVPA was also positively associated with light PA (LPA; r=0.26, p<0.001). MVPA and VPA were not significantly associated with TV, computer/video or total screen time; accelerometer SED was only weakly associated with specific SED behaviours. On average, for each additional 10 minutes daily MVPA, children accumulated >14 minutes less SED, and for each additional 5 minutes VPA, 11 minutes less SED. Thus, over the course of a week, higher mean daily MVPA may displace SED time and is associated with higher total-PA over and above the additional MVPA, due to concomitant higher levels of LPA. Public health strategies should target both MVPA and SED to improve overall PA and health in children.

Author(s)

  • Katya M. Herman 1
  • Gilles Paradis 2
  • Marie-Eve Mathieu 3
  • Jennifer O’Loughlin 4
  • Angelo Tremblay 5
  • Marie Lambert 6

Institution(s)

  • 1

    Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A2.
  • 2

    Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A2.
  • 3

    Department of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, and CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1C5.
  • 4

    Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre de recherche du CHUM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, H2W 1V1.
  • 5

    Department of Kinesiology, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 0A6.
  • 6

    Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1C5.

Journal

Pediatric Exercise Science

Categories

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