An objective method for measurement of sedentary behavior in 3- to 4-year olds.
OBJECTIVE
To test the ability of accelerometry to quantify sedentary behavior in 3- to 4-year-old children.


METHODS
We developed a cut-off for accelerometry output (validation study) in 30 healthy 3 to 4 year olds, which provided highest sensitivity and specificity for the detection of sedentary behavior relative to a criterion method of measurement, direct observation using the children's physical activity form. We then cross-validated the cut-off in an independent sample of healthy 3 to 4 year olds (n = 52).


RESULTS
In the validation study, optimal sensitivity and specificity for the detection of sedentary behavior were obtained at an accelerometry output cut-off of <1100 counts/min. In the cross-validation, sensitivity was 83%: 438/528 inactive minutes were correctly classified. Specificity was 82%: 1251/1526 noninactive minutes were correctly classified using this cut-off.


CONCLUSIONS
Sedentary behavior can be quantified objectively in young children using accelerometry. This new technique could be considered for a wide variety of applications in the etiology, prevention, and treatment of childhood obesity.
Division of Developmental Medicine and. Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. jjr2y@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
John J
JJ
Reilly
Jennifer
J
Coyle
Louise
L
Kelly
Genevieve
G
Burke
Stanley
S
Grant
James Y
JY
Paton
D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*