Seasonality in physical activity and sedentary behavior in young children

Reilly, John J and Fisher, Abigail and Montgomery, C. and Williamson, A. and Jackson, D.M. and Paton, J.Y. and Grant, S. (2005) Seasonality in physical activity and sedentary behavior in young children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 17 (1). pp. 31-40. ISSN 0899-8493

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Abstract

This study examined whether there was a significant seasonal variation in objectively measured habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior in young children. Participants were 209 children who attend nursery in Glasgow, Scotland, and measurements were taken using uniaxial accelerometry over 3 to 6 days. There were small but significant seasonal associations with physical activity and sedentary behavior (ANOVA: p < .001 in both cases). Total physical activity (accelerometry cpm) was significantly lower in spring than in summer, fall, and winter. We also found slight but significant seasonal variations in time spent in low-intensity activity and in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity. Sedentary time was significantly lower in summer vs. spring and in fall vs. spring. The present study suggests that seasonality plays only a limited role in physical activity and sedentary behavior in young children in our setting. Single measures of these variables should be adequate for research purposes in the absence of marked seasonal variability. In our sample and setting, the limited degree of seasonality precluded identification of major seasonal barriers to and opportunities for physical activity.

Author(s):Reilly, John J ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6165-5471, Fisher, Abigail, Montgomery, C., Williamson, A., Jackson, D.M., Paton, J.Y. and Grant, S.
Item type:Article
ID code:36376
Keywords:physical activity, child health, childhood obesity, pediatric obesity, Personal health and hygiene, including exercise, nutrition , Child Health. Child health services, Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Subjects:Medicine > Public aspects of medicine > Personal health and hygiene, including exercise, nutrition
Medicine > Pediatrics > Child Health. Child health services
Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > School of Psychological Science and Health > Physical Activity for Health
Depositing user: Pure Administrator
Date deposited:08 Dec 2011 11:33
Last modified:27 Sep 2019 02:27
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URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/36376
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