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Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in European children: the IDEFICS study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2013

Alba Ma Santaliestra-Pasías*
Affiliation:
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Science (EUCS), Department of Psychiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Theodora Mouratidou
Affiliation:
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Science (EUCS), Department of Psychiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Vera Verbestel
Affiliation:
Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Karin Bammann
Affiliation:
Department of Biometry and Data Management, Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine (BIPS), Bremen University, Bremen, Germany
Dénes Molnar
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
Sabina Sieri
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive and Predictive Medicine, Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
Alfonso Siani
Affiliation:
Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy
Toomas Veidebaum
Affiliation:
National Institute for Health Development, Center of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia
Staffan Mårild
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Lauren Lissner
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Public Health Epidemiology Unit, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Charalambos Hadjigeorgiou
Affiliation:
Research and Education Institute of Child Health, Nicosia, Cyprus
Lucia Reisch
Affiliation:
Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
Affiliation:
Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Luis A Moreno
Affiliation:
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Science (EUCS), Department of Psychiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: Email albasant@unizar.es
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Abstract

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in European children, and to evaluate the relationship between media availability in personal space and physical activity in relation to total screen time.

Design

Data from the baseline IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) cross-sectional survey. Information on hours of television/digital video disk/video viewing and computer/games-console use (weekday and weekend days), media device availability in personal space, sports club membership, hours of active organized play and commuting (to and from school) were assessed via a self-reported parental questionnaire. Total screen time was defined as the sum of daily media use and subsequently dichotomized into meeting or not meeting the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Setting

Eight survey centres (Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Hungary and Spain).

Subjects

Children (n 15 330; 51 % males) aged 2–10 years.

Results

Percentage of children engaged in total screen time for >2 h/d was higher on weekend days (52 % v. 20 % on weekdays) and in the older group (71 % in males; 57 % in females), varying by country. Children with a television set in their bedroom were more likely not to meet the screen time recommendations (OR = 1·54; 95 % CI 1·60, 1·74).

Conclusions

Approximately a third of the children failed to meet current screen time recommendations. Availability of a television set in personal space increased the risk of excess total screen time. This information could be used to identify potential targets for public health promotion actions of young population groups.

Information

Type
Epidemiology
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2013 
Figure 0

Table 1 Description of media use and availability and physical activity practice by sex among 15 330 children aged 2–10 years in eight European countries; IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, September 2007–June 2008

Figure 1

Table 2 Media use and availability and physical activity practice of younger children (2 to <6 years old) in eight European countries stratified by sex; IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, September 2007–June 2008

Figure 2

Table 3 Media use and availability and physical activity practice of older children (6 to <10 years old) in eight European countries stratified by sex; IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, September 2007–June 2008

Figure 3

Fig. 1 Prevalence of weekly total screen time viewing >2 h/d among 15 330 children in eight European countries by sex and age group (, younger males (2 to <6 years old); , older males (6 to <10 years old); , younger females (2 to <6 years old); , older females (6 to <10 years old); IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, September 2007–June 2008

Figure 4

Table 4 Prediction models of total screen time viewing (>2 h/d) and its association with media devices availability among 15 330 children aged 2–10 years in eight European countries; IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, September 2007–June 2008

Figure 5

Table 5 Prediction models of screen time viewing (>2 h/d) and its association with physical activity by age group among 15 330 children aged 2–10 years in eight European countries; IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, September 2007–June 2008