Objectively measured physical activity in European children: the IDEFICS study

Abstract

on behalf of the IDEFICS consortium OBJECTIVES: To provide sex-and age-specific percentile values for levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time of European children aged 2.0-10.9 years from eight European countries (Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Cyprus, Spain, Belgium and Estonia). METHODS: Free-living PA and sedentary time were objectively assessed using ActiGraph GT1M or ActiTrainer activity monitors in all children who had at least 3 days' worth of valid accelerometer data, with at least 8 h of valid recording time each day. The General Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape was used for calculating percentile curves. RESULTS: Reference values for PA and sedentary time in the European children according to sex and age are displayed using smoothed percentile curves for 7684 children (3842 boys and 3842 girls). The figures show similar trends in boys and girls. The percentage of children complying with recommendations regarding moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is also presented and varied considerably between sexes and country. For example, the percentage of study participants who were physically active (as assessed by MVPA) for 60 or more minutes per day ranged from 2.0% (Cyprus) to 14.7% (Sweden) in girls and from 9.5% (Italy) to 34.1% (Belgium) in boys. CONCLUSION: This study provides the most up-to-date sex-and age-specific reference data on PA in young children in Europe. The percentage compliance to MVPA recommendations for these European children varied considerably between sexes and country and was generally low. These results may have important implications for public health policy and PA counselling.

Results From Spain’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

“…Data obtained from the IDEFICS study using objective methods indicated that only 30% males and 12% of females (2 to 10 years old), respectively, achieved the recommendations. 22 For children aged 9 years old and adolescents aged 15 years old, the achievement of the PA guidelines was the following: 60% from a large sample of Spanish participants of the HBSC for 2010, 32% of 11-to 12-year-old children and 15% of older adolescents (17 to 18 years old) were adequately active. 25 Data from the ANIBES study collected in 2013 also showed big differences between ages and genders; 8 the guidelines were met by 52% of 9-to 12-year-old adolescents and by 37% of 13-to 17-year-old adolescents.…”

Objectively Determined Physical Activity Levels in German Primary School Children after a One Year School-based Health Promoting Intervention

“…This is especially noticeable for vigorous intensities, where boys achieved nearly three or four times (at follow-up and baseline, respectively) as much time in vigorous physical activity than girls, which has been shown previously as well [81]. Yet, not only total physical activity levels were significantly higher in boys compared to girls, but correspondingly, boys reached the guideline of 60 minutes of daily MVPA significantly more often than girls, which could also be shown before [16,23]. Yet, this may offer the possibility that girls are more susceptible to wellplanned and specifically designed interventions, targeting girls only, offering activities girls prefer in their own space, which then might lead to an increase in physical activity levels.…”

“…In a British study, 69% of 9 and 10 years old children achieve this goal [20], whereas in the US 42% of 6 to 11 year olds engage in 60 minutes of daily MVPA [21] and a recent Estonian study showed that only 11% of 7 to 9 year old children meet these recommendations [22]. Also, assessing physical activity levels in a large European cohort of 2 to 10 year olds, values of children meeting the recommended 60 minutes MVPA per day ranged from 2% for Cypriot girls to 34% in Belgian boys [23].…”

An Assessment of Body Composition and Lifestyle in Children Aged from 8 to 10 years

“…Children's preference for fatty foods and sweets, sugary drinks, low consumption of fruit and vegetables and physical inactivity were found to be the principle obesogenic factors [13,14]. Most children, especially in countries with a higher incidence of childhood obesity (Italy and Cyprus), did not undertake enough physical activity, which should be at least 1 hour per day [15]. Even the building environment of the neighborhood in which they were living had an effect on their movements.…”