Background: Levels of physical activity and variation in physical activity and sedentary time by place and person in European children and adolescents are largely unknown. The objective of the study was to assess the variations in objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in children and adolescents across Europe. Methods: Six databases were systematically searched to identify pan-European and national data sets on physical activity and sedentary time assessed by the same accelerometer in children (2 to 9.9 years) and adolescents (≥10 to 18 years). We harmonized individual-level data by reprocessing hip-worn raw accelerometer data files from 30 different studies conducted between 1997 and 2014, representing 47,497 individuals (2-18 years) from 18 different European countries. Results: Overall, a maximum of 29% (95% CI: 25, 33) of children and 29% (95% CI: 25, 32) of adolescents were categorized as sufficiently physically active. We observed substantial country-and region-specific differences in physical activity and sedentary time, with lower physical activity levels and prevalence estimates in Southern European countries. Boys were more active and less sedentary in all age-categories. The onset of age-related lowering or leveling-off of physical activity and increase in sedentary time seems to become apparent at around 6 to 7 years of age.

AIM:The benefits of promoting physical activity (PA) in counteracting the high prevalence of childhood obesity have become increasingly important in the past decade. The aim of this study was to examine the association between compliance of daily PA recommendations and the risk of being overweight or obese in preschool-aged children. METHODS: The sample comprised 607 children aged 4-6 years, recruited from kindergartens located in the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal. Preschooler's body mass index was classified according to International Obesity Task Force. PA was assessed during 7 consecutive days by accelerometer. Children were classified as meeting or not meeting PA recommendations based on two guidelines: (i) at least 3 h per day of total PA (TPA); and (ii) at least 1 h per day of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 23.5 and 10.6% in girls and 17.2 and 8.9% in boys. In all, 90.2 and 97.3% of girls met the X1 h MVPA and X3 h TPA recommendations, respectively. In all, 96.2 and 99.4% boys met the X1 h MVPA and X3 h TPA recommendations, respectively. Boys were significantly more likely to achieve the X1 h MVPA and X3 h TPA recommendations than girls (Pp0.001). Not meeting the X1 h MVPA guideline was associated with obesity status (OR: 3.8; IC: 1.3-10.4), in girls, but not boys. No other statistically significant associations were found. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that over 90% of children met the recommended guidelines. There is an association with low levels of MVPA and higher obesity status among preschool girls. Further, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these data.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar si las instrucciones (aproximación positiva o negativa a la educación) estaban determinadas por las características del entrenador de fútbol base (formación académica, titulación federativa, modelo de enseñanza-entrenamiento, estilo de liderazgo y estilo de dirección del equipo) en edades escolares. Se analizaron a 10 entrenadores andaluces en un partido de competición cada uno. A cada uno de los entrenadores se le grabó durante un partido de competición regional, que hace un total de 10 partidos y 932 minutos analizados. Los jóvenes futbolistas a quienes iban dirigidas dichas instrucciones tenían unas edades comprendidas entre los 15 y 18 años, y participaron un total de 125. Se usó el análisis de contenido como instrumento, categorizando dichas instrucciones y contrastando la frecuencia de instrucciones de carácter negativo o positivo hacia la educación con las características formativas de los entrenadores. Los resultados mostraron que sí existe influencia de dichas características sobre el tipo de instrucciones, siendo además acumulativas en su efecto. La formación del entrenador, el modelo de enseñanza táctico y el liderazgo democrático-permisivo, así como dirigir al grupo con autoridad son esenciales para educar a los jóvenes futbolistas en estas etapas de formación.Abstract. The aim of this study was to analyse if youth sport coaches’ instructions were influenced by their characteristics (i.e. general education, coaching certificación, model of teaching, leadership style, and team instruction style) when delivered to school-aged youth. We analysed one match of each of  10 Andalusian coaches. One soccer game was recorded for each coach in a regional competition, which was a total of 10 soccer games and 932 minutes analysed. The young soccer players were aged between 15 and 18 years. A content analysis was used for collecting data, through a thematic coding system to categorize the instructions during the matches. We compared the frequencies of negative and positive approaches to education of the coaches with their aforementioned characteristics. The results showed that there is an influence of these characteristics on the type of instructions, and that there is a cumulative effect. Coaching education, the tactical teaching model,  a democratic-permissive leadership style, and leading the group with authority, are essential in educating youth soccer players duringthe school years.