Association between age at onset of independent walking and objectively measured sedentary behavior is mediated by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in primary school children

Abstract

ObjectiveAge at onset of walking has been shown as an early predictor of physical activity in infants and children. However, little is known about whether age at onset of walking may predict sedentary behavior (SB). The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the timing of onset of walking and objectively measured SB, and whether this association is mediated by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in children.MethodsThe subjects were 388 elementary school children aged 6–12 years. Current weight and height data were collected. Birth weight and the age in months the child first walked independently were reported based on the parents’ recall. Children’s SB and physical activity were objectively measured using a triaxial accelerometer (Active style Pro HJA-350IT, OMRON). The following summary outcome variables were derived from accelerometer data: Time (min/day) spent in SB (≤1.5 metabolic equivalents [METs]) and MVPA (≥3.0 METs).ResultsThe mean ± SD time (min/day) spent in sedentary was 376 ± 62 and MVPA was 67.6 ± 20.8. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that a later age at independent walking was associated with increased time spent in SB (β = 0.15, P < 0.001) and decreased time spent in MVPA (β = -0. 18, P < 0.001) after adjusting for gender, birth weight, current age, body weight, schools, and time spent wearing the accelerometer. When MVPA was introduced as a covariate in the model predicting SB, the association between the age at independent walking and time spent in SB was completely attenuated (β = 0.04, P = 0.215), while MVPA was significantly associated with SB (β = -0.61, P < 0.001).ConclusionsOur results indicate that infants who walked at a later age spent more time in SB in childhood, and this association is mediated by MVPA. Appropriate interventions which focus on increasing MVPA and thereby reducing SB may be beneficial in infants who demonstrate a later age at onset of independent walking.

Physical activity practice and sports preferences in a group of Spanish schoolchildren depending on sex and parental care: a gender perspective

“…The mean time spent in sedentary leisure activities was 2.34 ± 1.08 h by girls and 2.48 ± 1.23 h by boys, being found significant differences between sexes only when time spent using PCs, tablets or game stations was analyzed, being higher the time dedicated by boys to this kind of activity (p < 0.001). Other studies showed this higher time spent by boys in recreational use of computers or other electronic devices [40], even though girls usually spent more time in sedentary behaviors [41].…”

Infant motor development and physical activity and sedentary time at midlife

“…For example, in a recent study of 34‐year‐old Finnish twins, earlier learning to stand unaided in infancy was associated with higher self‐reported leisure‐time PA (LTPA) in young adulthood, 13 whereas limited evidence was found between ages at reaching infant motor milestones and self‐reported LTPA in adulthood in the study of 1946 British birth cohort 14 . Only two studies had examined the association between motor development and accelerometer‐measured ST, and both were conducted in childhood, and the sample sizes were relatively small 15,16 . Both these studies found association between later motor development and higher ST in childhood.…”

Differentiation of physical education lessons by body mass index of schoolchildren

“…In some studies, on improving the physical preparation of children to fulfil physical standards, in particular, the «Ready for Work and for the Defense» complex, the authors prove that for those who go in for physical culture it is necessary to organize a training process taking into account individually differentiated trajectories (Osipov et al, 2016;Tanaka et al, 2018). Experts prove that for each physical quality, an individual training of different functional intensity for adolescents of different physical levels and individual weekly physical activity should be compiled (Aoyama et al, 2018;Yarmak et al, 2018). This study proves that it is the differentiation of groups in school by body mass index that has a significant positive effect on physical development, in particular on improving the endurance and dexterity of schoolchildren.…”

“…According to experts, it is only through increasing the physical and health-improving knowledge of schoolchildren that it is possible for them to form a set of values in the field of a healthy lifestyle and full social adaptation (Donnelly et al, 2009;Magdalena et al, 2016). The implementation of this process based on the didactic possibilities of using individually differentiated technologies will increase its efficiency by improving the indicators of physical qualities, increasing the level of functional capabilities of schoolchildren and motivating adolescents to physical activity (Aoyama et al, 2018;Cvetković et al, 2018).…”