9-year-old children who play outdoors after school and 15-year-old children who participate in sport clubs are more physically activeMany efforts aimed at preventing childhood obesity have targeted increasing physical activity. To successfully increase physical activity levels it is important to understand factors that influence children's physical activity. This study investigated four leisure time behaviors and their relationship to physical activity: 1) mode of transportation to school; 2) outdoor play after school; 3) participation in sport and exercise clubs; and 4) TV viewing. Their purpose was to investigate what kinds of interventions might help to promote an active lifestyle in young people.
Researchers analyzed data for over 1,300 9- and 15-year-old children from three European countries (Norway, Estonia, and Portugal). The researchers measured children's moderate to vigorous physical activity with accelerometers and their leisure activities via a self-report questionnaire.
In analyzing the data, researchers found significant differences between age and gender groups. For example, 9-year-olds more frequently reported active commuting, outdoor play, and exercise in clubs as compared to 15-year-olds; while boys reported playing more outdoors after school than girls. With regard to physical activity levels, researchers found that 9-year-olds were significantly more active than 15-year-olds and that boys were significantly more active than girls. In examining relationships between leisure activities and physical activity, Nilsson and colleagues discovered that playing outdoors after school was associated with higher physical activity levels for 9-year-olds, while participating in sport clubs was associated with higher physical activity levels for 15-year-olds. These results indicate that children's physical activity behavior changes as they age. The researchers did not find a relationship between active commuting or TV viewing and physical activity levels. Researchers also did not find relationships between leisure time behaviors and the amount of time children spent being sedentary, suggesting that there may be different factors that influence sedentary behavior and physical activity.
This study provides useful information about leisure time behaviors that influence children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels, which can help inform interventions designed to enhance children's health.
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