Early life determinants of physical activity in 11 to 12 year olds: cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine factors in early life (up to age 5 years) that are associated with objectively measured physical activity in 11-12 year olds.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Avon longitudinal study of parents and children, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Children aged 11-12 years from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children.


METHODS
Physical activity levels in counts per minute (cpm) and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity for seven days measured with a uniaxial actigraph accelerometer.


RESULTS
Valid actigraph data, defined as at least three days of physical activity for at least 10 hours a day, were collected from 5451 children. Several factors were associated with physical activity at ages 11-12 years. Regression coefficients are compared with the baseline of "none" for categorical variables: maternal brisk walking during pregnancy (regression coefficient 5.0, 95% confidence interval -8.5 to 18.5; cpm for <1 h/wk and > or =2 h/wk of physical activity 17.7, 5.3 to 30.1), maternal swimming during pregnancy (21.5, 10.9 to 32.1 and cpm for <1 h/wk and > or =2 h/wk of physical activity 24.2, 7.8 to 40.7), parents' physical activity when the child was aged 21 months (28.5, 15.2 to 41.8 and cpm of physical activity for either parent active and both parents active 33.5, 17.8 to 49.3), and parity assessed during pregnancy (2.9, -7.6 to 13.4 and cpm of physical activity for 1 and > or =2 parity 21.2, 7.1 to 35.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Few factors in early life predicted later physical activity in 11-12 year olds. Parents' physical activity during pregnancy and early in the child's life showed a modest association with physical activity of the child at age 11-12 years, suggesting that active parents tend to raise active children. Helping parents to increase their physical activity therefore may promote children's activity.
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ. c.mattocks@bristol.ac.uk
Calum
C
Mattocks
Andy
A
Ness
Kevin
K
Deere
Kate
K
Tilling
Sam
S
Leary
Steven N
SN
Blair
Chris
C
Riddoch
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies