Sedentary behavior in Brazilian children and adolescents: a systematic review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To describe the methodological characteristics of the studies selected and assess variables associated with sedentary behavior in Brazilian children and adolescents.METHODS For this systematic review, we searched four electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Knowledge, LILACS, SciELO. Also, electronic searches were applied in Google Scholar. A supplementary search was conducted in the references lists of the included articles and in non-indexed journals. We included observational studies with children and adolescents aged from three to 19 years developed in Brazil, presenting analyses of associations based on regression methods and published until September 30, 2014.RESULTS Of the 255 potential references retrieved by the searches, 49 met the inclusion criteria and composed the descriptive synthesis. In this set, we identified a great number of cross-sectional studies (n = 43; 88.0%) and high methodological variability on the types of sedentary behavior assessed, measurement tools and cut-off points used. The variables most often associated with sedentary behavior were “high levels of body weight” (in 15 out of 27 studies; 55.0%) and “lower level of physical activity” (in eight out of 16 studies; 50.0%).CONCLUSIONS The findings of this review raise the following demands to the Brazilian agenda of sedentary behavior research geared to children and adolescents: development of longitudinal studies, validation of measuring tools, establishment of risk cut-offs, measurement of sedentary behavior beyond screen time and use of objective measures in addition to questionnaires. In the articles available, the associations between sedentary behavior with “high levels of body weight” and “low levels of physical activity” were observed in different regions of Brazil.

Tempo de tela como discriminador de excesso de peso, obesidade e obesidade abdominal em adolescentes

“…Corroborating our results, recent literature systematic review study showed that most of the studies analyzed found association between sedentary behavior and increased body weight levels in children and adolescents 28 . One of the main limitations of this work was the construction of screen time variable from self-reported information, which may have underestimated this sedentary behavior.…”

Screen time between Portuguese and Brazilian children: a cross-cultural study

“…For instance, data from urban and rural communities in the Portuguese Midlands comprising 100 boys and 115 girls aged 13-14 year-old found 3.34 ± 1.79 h/day and 2.63±1.39 h/day of ST, respectively 41 . Recently, a systematic review described the methodological characteristics and assessed variables associated with SB among Brazilian children and adolescents and identified a great number of cross-sectional studies around the country 42 . Besides a global matrix comparing 15 countries suggest that SB in general are better in low-income countries 9 , we found high ST values (Girls: 3.36 ± 1.83; Boys: 4.2 ± 2.28 h/day; p<0.05) and prevalence of ST ≥2 h/day (Girls: 81.0%; Boys: 76.4%).…”

Comportamento Sedentário No Lazer E Sua Associação Com Atividade Física No Contexto Escolar De Crianças No Sul Do Brasil

“…Em outro estudo realizado na cidade de Pelotas (RS) com escolares de 10 a 12 anos de idade, o comportamento sedentário apresentou associação com o ambiente escolar, com maior prevalência de acordo com a diminuição da participação dos escolares em aulas de Educação Física curriculares 35 . Sabe-se que o ambiente escolar é propício para a redução com comportamento sedentário 23 , porém o presente estudo não encontrou resultados significativos envolvendo a aula de educação física. Este dado instiga a discussão acerca da prática de atividade física em atividades com e sem organização estrutural, como por exemplo, o recreio escolar.…”