Adherence to physical activity and electronic media guidelines in Australian pre-school children.
The aim of this study was to determine compliance with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) guideline for physical activity and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation for electronic media use among urban pre-school children in two large cities on the East Coast of Australia. Cross-sectional data were collected from 266 parents. Time spent using electronic media (watching television, DVDs or on the computer) and in physical activity were parent reported. The proportion who met each guideline was calculated. 56 per cent and 79% of children met the NASPE guideline on weekdays and weekends, respectively, while 73% and 70% met the AAP recommendation on weekdays and weekends, with no difference between boys and girls. A substantial minority do not meet physical activity and electronic media use recommendations, highlighting the need to better understand what factors contribute to physical activity and electronic media use among this group of pre-schoolers.
Okely
Anthony D
AD
Child Obesity Research Centre, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. tokely@uow.edu.au
Trost
Stewart G
SG
Steele
Julie R
JR
Cliff
Dylan P
DP
Mickle
Karen
K
D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003146:Communications Media; D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009517:New South Wales; D011793:Queensland; D013690:Television; D014504:Urban Health; D014742:Videodisc Recording